Death Stranding is unquestionably one of Fall's most anticipated video games for a variety of reasons. Chief among these is a fact that it's being developed by Hideo Kojima's studio, as well as featuring a cast of beloved actors and actresses. Fans want all the information they can get about the game, and most recently, Kojima announced that the game will have first-person segments, albeit unconventional ones.
During the Death Stranding preview shown at Gamescom, there was a segment shown in which protagonist Sam falls off the edge of a cliff, presumably injuring him. More importantly, the fall impacts the canister with the baby inside. The baby starts crying as a result of the impact, requiring Sam to, in first-person, remove the canister and rock it in his arms to soothe the baby.
As such, the first-person component appears to be more of a narrative necessity than anything else, as it seemingly is supposed to draw an emotional connection between the player and the baby Sam is meant to protect. Kojima also sent out a tweet addressing the first-person element following the Gamescom event.
While ambiguous, as is usually the case with Kojima and his works, he clarified that a first-person view is possible, but the game can't be identified as a first-person shooter. Furthermore, Kojima reiterated that Death Stranding is part of a new genre invented by Kojima's development staff, called an "Action Game, Strand Game (Social Strand System)." He said in the tweet that it is adapted from the "concept of strand." The strand system focuses on the profound connection between Sam and the baby, as well as other elements from the game. He labeled the game a Strand Game due to how Death Stranding's own inventive mechanics define it as a work.
Gamers have yet to fully see how a first-person perspective is incorporated in the game, though it can be presumed that it is integral to the narrative. Regardless, however bizarre Kojima's works may often be, he has often been trusted to develop the best product possible, despite sometimes very unfortunate circumstances.
Death Stranding will be heading to PlayStation 4 on November 8, 2019.