Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has emerged as a standout title, resonating deeply with players through its poignant themes of connection, grief, and the transient nature of existence. The gameplay experience is not only engaging but also offers a memorable journey across Australia, linking it to the Chiral Network, albeit with a design that may not quite match the original’s expansive continental United States. As speculation mounts regarding this being the last single-player PlayStation port to PC, Nixxes appears to be concluding their efforts with a remarkable flourish, arguably delivering their finest work to date.
Performance Insights
In my quest to explore the game’s visual capabilities, I immediately maxed out the settings, embracing ray tracing and PICO upscaling aimed at achieving 170 frames per second. Interestingly, while the option to disable upscaling is absent, PICO—an innovation from the Horizon series—adds a fresh dimension to the graphics. Initial tests were conducted with frame generation turned off, running the game at 1440p on an RTX 4070 Ti, paired with a 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900K processor, 32 GB of RAM, and Windows 11. Attempts to launch on Linux with Fedora KDE were met with crashes, underscoring the game’s preference for more mainstream configurations.
With frame generation disabled, performance hovered around 60 fps in demanding environments like the Western Environmental Observatory, where intricate geometry and effects from nearby roads created a visual rollercoaster, fluctuating between 55 and 70 fps. Lowering the settings to the Portable preset yielded an impressive 94 fps in the same area, maintaining a commendable visual quality. Reintroducing frame generation alongside reflex and boost features allowed for peak performance, occasionally surpassing 126 fps depending on camera angles. NVIDIA’s advancements in frame generation have notably improved the clarity, with only minor smearing evident in select cutscenes.
Upscaling Options and Compatibility
Testing various upscaling methods revealed intriguing results. While PICO upscaling combined with DLSS frame generation emerged as the optimal choice, delivering stunning visuals at maximum settings and consistently exceeding 60 fps, other options like FSR 3.1.5 and XeSS offered lower frame rates and some image fuzziness. The game’s settings are highly adjustable, allowing players to balance performance and fidelity according to their hardware capabilities. Options include Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, Ambient Occlusion, and Ray Tracing, among others, providing a customizable experience tailored to individual preferences.
However, the Steam Deck presents a challenge for those wishing to play On the Beach on the go. While the game launches on the device, the pre-configured Portable preset yields a mere 24 fps, rendering it nearly unplayable. Players seeking a portable experience will need to turn to more powerful hardware to fully appreciate the game’s offerings.
Controller Compatibility and Gameplay Enhancements
During my playthrough, I utilized a Nintendo Switch 2 controller, which seamlessly integrated with the game, providing accurate button prompts and a familiar layout. Steam Input facilitated further customization, allowing me to assign various in-game actions to additional buttons. Notably, the game demonstrated compatibility with a wide range of controllers, although some, like the original GameCube controller via a USB adapter, faced limitations. The DualSense controller, while slightly less robust than its PS5 counterpart, enhanced the overall experience, making it a recommended choice for players yet to experience the game with this controller.
A New Challenge Awaits
One of the most exciting additions is the new difficulty mode, “to the wilder,” designed to test players’ porter skills to the fullest. This mode introduces tougher enemies, weaker character stats, and faster resource degradation, creating a more immersive and strategic gameplay experience. Unlike the previous Hard mode, where players could navigate with relative ease, “to the wilder” demands careful planning and resource management, enriching the overall engagement with the game’s mechanics.
In summary, this PC port of Death Stranding 2 stands as a testament to the game’s artistic and technical prowess, offering stunning visuals and a rich gameplay experience across various settings. For those who have yet to embark on this journey on PS5, the PC version promises all the enhancements and features one could desire.
