How the Decima Engine Breathed Life into Death Stranding 2’s Stunning World

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Exploring Death Stranding 2’s diverse landscapes prompted me to frequently snap screenshots, capturing moments to savor the game’s awe-inspiring vistas. The initial nocturnal setting revealed stars sparkling against the sky, while my journey through snow-capped mountains was punctuated by the breathtaking sight of an enormous moon-like structure.

I can’t help but ponder: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach might not shine as brightly without Guerrilla Games’ Decima Engine, which significantly contributes to the game’s success by offering immersive settings and a captivating ambiance that sets it apart in this year’s gaming landscape.

It’s reasonable to conclude that the Decima Engine significantly turned around Death Stranding following Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami. In his previous stint, the later Metal Gear Solid games leveraged the exceptionally efficient FOX Engine, which was widely acknowledged as one of the best in its time. Regrettably, this engine remained dormant for a significant period until Konami reactivated it for the Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater Delta remake.

For Kojima Productions, shifting away from FOX Engine proved to be a significant challenge. The search for an alternative engine that could meet the rigorous requirements of a typical Kojima game involved careful consideration of factors like performance, scalability, and graphical quality. This new engine had to be capable of delivering top-tier graphics while also facilitating the smooth, open-ended gameplay that Kojima is renowned for.

Capcom’s RE Engine might not work well because it has had difficulties with open-world design in the past. On the other hand, Unreal Engine 5 is a strong tool but could require a long time for KojiPro to fully understand. As for FOX Engine, that particular era seems to have come to an end.

It was often the wisest decision for KojiPro to opt for Guerrilla Games and Sony’s Decima Engine, a move that has proven to be particularly shrewd since their transition to independence.

The Horizon games have consistently demonstrated Decima’s exceptional ability to create immersive open worlds. Aloy’s journeys through post-apocalyptic America offer breathtaking landscapes, deserted cities, vast deserts, and dense jungles teeming with robotic creatures. Death Stranding, on the other hand, presents a more peculiar and dreamlike post-apocalyptic setting.

As a dedicated gamer, I can surely appreciate the thematic link between Death Stranding and On the Beach. The evolution of the game’s engine over the years, starting from the initial release of Death Stranding, is evident, making each new experience even smoother and more polished.

If Death Stranding 2 was developed using a different game engine, I’m not sure if I would be enjoying it as much due to its high level of polish. Kojipro’s artistry and focus on detail certainly warrant praise, but having a familiar engine undoubtedly allowed them to reach even greater heights.

Every now and then, the Decima Engine experiences some technical hiccups, such as making me collide with unseen objects or irregular shapes. It can be annoying, but overall, it’s far superior to encountering performance problems and inconsistent frame rates.

It’s evident by this point that Decima is an ideal choice for Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding series, and it’s intriguing to think about how much better Guerrilla Games’ third (and potentially final) Horizon title will look due to the engine. This prospect excites me for its future applications. As of now, we’re unsure if KojiPro will employ the engine again for their upcoming projects OD and PHYSINT. However, it’s something we can certainly look forward to.

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2025-07-07 15:12