DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT News

Hi everyone. If you've been following our #DSPorterSpotlight series throughout 2023, you'll know just how talented and creative the DEATH STRANDING community is!

With that in mind, we decided to treat our Porters to an exclusive Q&A with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS' Art Director, Yoji Shinkawa.

Sit back and enjoy!

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[h3]DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT - #DSPORTERSPOTLIGHT 2023[/h3]
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We’re approaching the end of another month, which means it’s time to celebrate another amazing Porter in the DEATH STRANDING community. August’s #DSPorterSpotlight features the incredible Leo, a super talented artist and cosplayer.

[h3]INTERVIEW WITH LEO (@ASTRANDOFGO)[/h3]

Hi Leo! Great to have you on board for this month’s #DSPorterSpotlight piece! We love your passion for DEATH STRANDING, as well as your incredible art and cosplay. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and what makes you a DEATH STRANDING fan?

Thanks so much for having me! I’m Leo, a self-taught hobbyist artist. I began drawing as a kid, then took a long hiatus in my 20’s, letting my art fall to the side. I then became inspired to pick it back up after playing through DEATH STRANDING. It truly was the precipice for the revival of my creative passion, and I relearned the fundamentals of art through the process.

DEATH STRANDING was my first experience with a game from Hideo Kojima, and I had no idea what awaited me. It was an emotional roller coaster going through the game, especially since I was expecting my own little BB at the time (who is now very much out of her tank by now), and with the onset of Covid and being in isolation for so long, the game hit a little deeper than it would have at other points in my life. It came at the perfect time. The themes and aesthetics presented in DEATH STRANDING spoke to me in a way that few games or movies had previously. I’ve played through the game multiple times and even still to this day, there are moments that get me misty eyed. I’m just an emotional wreck in the last few chapters (in the best way, of course). I really love the moments when I’m walking through some picturesque landscape, and a Low Roar song triggers. It speaks right to my core, it’s such a unique experience.



Can you talk to us about your creative process when working on your illustrations and your cosplay?

Music plays a huge part in my creative process. I’m very motivated by lyrics and the overall feel of a song. I tend to listen to very emotionally heavy music, and I really strive to put those same emotions into my art. Once I have an idea, I work relatively quickly. I tend to base my art on photos that I’ve taken in game. My digital paintings take roughly 4-6 hours total, while my sketchier traditional art takes an hour or two. I really love to put a lot of detail into my digital paintings, and more feeling into my traditional art. My favorite part of any piece are the eyes. There’s almost a spiritual connection when finishing the eyes.

My cosplay process is much more analytical, and I am all about the details, even those that aren’t front and center. I spent an embarrassingly long amount of time trying to figure out all of the text on the Bridges uniform, and did my best to match up the keys to the ones on the keychain in the game. This is where I let my detail-oriented vision shine. Even if they’re details that won’t be noticed, it makes me feel accomplished, and is a source of personal pride.



Do you have a favorite character from DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT and if so, what makes them so special to you?

I can already hear friends of mine laughing over this because of how many times they’ve had to hear me go on and on about my favorite DEATH STRANDING character. I have no doubt that they could answer this without thinking about it. My favorite character, without doubt, is Higgs Monaghan. As someone who was obsessed with Ancient Egypt as a child, I was smitten with him from the very first time we met him in the game. The moment that gold and black striped cloak caught my eye I was hooked. With his tattoos, messy eyeliner, and bold outfit design, he really makes for such a fun and visually appealing character to draw. But upon playing through the game and learning his backstory, once all character relationships and dynamics are established, that’s when he really found his way into my heart, and I understood how much of a complex part of the story he is. If I could give anyone in the DEATH STRANDING universe a hug, it would definitely be him.



How influential has social media been in getting your work noticed?

Social media has been crucial in getting my work noticed. You can’t be an artist in this era without it. I started out in 2021 without a following, posting daily as I relearned the foundations of art, and very slowly, I started meeting people with the same creative spark that I had. Over the past two years, my circle grew as I met more people, and experienced more breath-taking art from my fellow creatives in the community. Artists, authors, and cosplayers alike, brought together by their common interests, in all different walks of life. I’ve chatted with members of the industry who were kind enough to share their knowledge and experiences, giving a look into what it takes to make these games. And recently I was pleasantly shocked when Kojima followed me on Twitter. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It’s such a huge honor to be acknowledged as an artist in that manner.



Do you have any advice for new Porters who might be about to play DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT for the first time?

My advice would be to take your time with the game. Really take it in, enjoy the quiet moments, because they’re quite beautiful. Get familiar with zip lines, they’re a life saver (especially to the Wind Farm). You can never have too many blood bags. And deliver all of the pizzas!



Thank you so much to Leo for taking the time to answer our questions! For previous community spotlights, head to:

https://505.games/DSPorterSpotlightTimeline

Leo: https://twitter.com/astrandofgold

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2023 is flying! We’re at the end of July, which means it’s once again time to celebrate an incredible Porter in the DEATH STRANDING community. Today, we’re putting the spotlight on Ramm Art, an unbelievably talented illustrator who came to our attention recently.

[h3]INTERVIEW WITH RAMM ART[/h3]

Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us. Your DEATH STRANDING illustrations are fantastic! Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what makes you a DEATH STRANDING super fan?

Thank you for inviting me. I am a self-taught artist and from an early age had a passion for video games, as well as the world of art and drawing. Growing up, I found myself immersed in the worlds created for games and became fascinated by the drawings and characters I encountered. My passion for video games and art continued to grow and I began to explore the possibilities of combining these two passions. I started to create my own art, inspired by my favorite games. (Starting with Hideo Kojima’s early games to DEATH STRANDING)



What is it about DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT that appealed to you as a gamer and an artist?

As a gamer, I was drawn to DEATH STRANDING’s unique narrative and gameplay, as well as the immersive world and inspiring themes around human connection. In addition to this, as an artist I was drawn to the setting, the characterization of the characters and the immersive soundtrack.



The amount of detail and care you put in your art is incredible. Could you talk us through your creative process?

During the first stage, I make simple pencil sketches of the drawing I want to make, limiting myself to the guiding lines and outlines of the basic shapes. Once the sketch is complete, I try to refine it by shaping it, adding details, colors and shading to create a more realistic and three-dimensional representation of the object or character. It usually takes me somewhere between 15 to 20 hours to complete an A3 drawing. My source of inspiration is always video games!



Do you have a favorite character to illustrate from DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT?

Yes - My favorite character to draw is obviously Sam Porter Bridges with his BB, which I find particularly interesting to illustrate, but all the other characters are also interesting! For example, the charismatic Die-Hardman, who I love madly for his mask!



Do you have any advice for Porters about to play DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT for the first time?

I advise new Porters to take their time. DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT is a game that rewards patience and exploration. Take your time to explore the world and its mechanics. Don’t rush it! Embrace the narrative and get involved with the characters and the game world. Remember that DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT is a challenging but rewarding game that requires patience, determination and an open mind. Have fun and stay connected!







A big thank you to Ramm Art for taking part in our latest #DSPorterSpotlight. For previous community spotlights, head to:

https://505.games/DSPorterSpotlightTimeline

Ramm Art: https://twitter.com/Ramm__Art

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1850570/DEATH_STRANDING_DIRECTORS_CUT/

Here at 505 Games and KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, we know the DEATH STRANDING community is special. It’s a global community filled with passionate Porters with a desire to share their enthusiasm for the game and connect with one another.

Over the last few years, we’ve spent a lot of time on social media and as a result, got to know some incredible DEATH STRANDING fans. These positive forces have been amazing cheerleaders for us and we’ve loved engaging with you all on an almost daily basis.

To celebrate our anniversary, we asked several fans what it is about this community that means so much to them. The responses we got were not only heart-warming, but a wonderful reminder of why we love doing what we do.

[h3]WHAT DOES THE DEATH STRANDING COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU?[/h3]

Ray Reynolds:

What does the DEATH STRANDING community mean to me? There’s an old Irish saying, “You’re only as strong as the end of the rope you’re holding” and I think that rings true for the DEATH STRANDING community. The virtual photographers, the artists, cosplayers, streamers, all the porters out there connecting the UCA are all strands of this rope, and when we’re together we’re all stronger. Even when we can’t see them, the strands are still there. DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT is the rope that binds the community together, makes us stronger and keeps us connected.

dylsky_:

It defines what a community should be. It’s nothing but pure cooperation between players, and it takes many forms. Whether it’s answering a new player’s question on Reddit, or building a structure in game, not because “this bridge/rope/ladder will help me” but because “this will help all of us who are struggling up this path”. We need more communities like the DEATH STRANDING community.

SilentMab:

Sharing. We share our bridges, ziplines and timefall shelters, of course. But here, we also get to share tips, photos from photo mode, good laughs (from putting Sam in the worst possible situations… Sorry Sam!), pictures of our real life Porter encounters, BT hands, DEATH STRANDING-like landscapes, cosplays, art, etc… These little things make my days so much brighter, and the “loose connections” they create are such an integral part of the DEATH STRANDING experience to me.

ajla616-2:

To me, the DEATH STRANDING community is about positive affirmation. The game itself is a very difficult, solitary struggle that is remedied by being surrounded with encouragement from real people who understand your struggle and are going through the same thing. Where some communities are toxic to the point where you want to isolate yourself from them and not engage, DEATH STRANDING’s community does the opposite. This wholesome mentality is a core aspect of the gameplay loop and it has permeated into its real world communities. This is part of what makes it such a unique piece of art, especially within the context of its release date.

Trooperjay:

It helped me heal from a wound that was left open since 2017. Helped me accept what happened and I could finally open up about it with others. I do have to admit, I did have to put the game down several times because of the emotions that rushed back from that day but I carried on. Can’t really explain why this game had such an emotional impact on me but it did and I am in a better place for it now.

Krystine_Art:

The DEATH STRANDING community is wonderful. I’ve discovered people through this community who share their love for DEATH STRANDING with whom I’ve become friends with over time. I’ve also discovered other artists through this community. The passion for DEATH STRANDING along with art has brought us together to the point where we even create illustrations together for this game. The team always has the best ideas/opportunities for the community to express their love and passion for the game, like the #DSPorterSpotlight features. Thank you for making all this possible!

Lisa:

For me personally, the DEATH STRANDING community is the most positive and uplifting place to be in. If you love the game, that’s all that matters. DEATH STRANDING, along with this community has given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people who love Kojima Productions as much as I do. (Some of these people have now become lifelong friends and that’s amazing!) It’s the best community in the world and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. If you haven’t played DEATH STRANDING, do it! Being part of the community and feeling like you have a place is everything.

BiggyStalone:

Co-operation! Seeing everyone help others with important structures and upgrades. Open minded-ness to hear others in the community to give their own points of view on certain aspects of the game. Always a super open dialogue!

NaVENOM:

I love the creative aspect of this community in terms of arts, screenshots, and videos, as well as the way the developer/publisher is connected to the community and supports its talents.

Ari:

The DEATH STRANDING community is one I feel very comfortable talking about. I love being able to voice my thoughts with others, without the fear of being criticized. The thing I love the most about the DEATH STRANDING community is seeing how much happiness and appreciation there is when we see Hideo Kojima engaging with our content on social media. It’s awesome and very satisfying to see the creator of that game you spend hours playing notice you. Also, as portrayed in DEATH STRANDING’s story, for those who are not very open with people, you can always create ‘bridges’ with others in this community, making you feel less alone.

wammes_:

I just love how the online aspect of DEATH STRANDING is all about helping each other out instead of competing with one another. It’s so wholesome to find a sign pointing you in the right direction, or a Zipline or Shelter placed at just the right spot. You really feel like you’re working together to help each other out. And it’s a good feeling when you put up a structure and see others have liked it.

Petting_Zoo_Justice:

I played the game towards the tail-end of the pandemic, and it was a very surreal experience because I felt the same way playing the game as I did during quarantine / lockdown. Playing a game where I’m alone and can’t see any other players but can see what they’ve created was a very lonely but heartwarming experience. To be able to connect with a community without interacting with them directly was a new but familiar feeling. Especially when the core elements of the game were working together to build something and to connect people together. To me DEATH STRANDING means a place where I can be alone with other people and work towards something bigger than myself while helping others along the way.

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These are just a few of the amazing responses we’ve had from our Porters. It’s been a joy to read through them all. To see more, head over to Reddit.

Let’s wrap up this blog by saying thank you for all you do! The support from this community never goes unnoticed and we appreciate you more than you realize.

Keep on keeping on!