At a time when many saw Death Stranding as one of the strangest games of its generation—mainly due to its slow pace and focus on delivering cargo—it turns out the game was inspired by something very real happening in Japan. That shifted the conversation from confusion to admiration when the details emerged.

In Japan, there's a group of traditional porters called "Bokka" who carry loads of over 100kg on their backs through harsh mountain trails where no vehicles can go. These people face a daily challenge in silence and endurance, and they were the core inspiration for Hideo Kojima when creating Death Stranding’s world.

What's surprising is that in the upcoming sequel, Death Stranding 2, the Bokka will actually appear in-game. Not just as a concept, but as real characters within the story.

This was revealed during a recent interview with the development team, where they explained that they collaborated with real members of the Bokka community to faithfully represent their experience in the game—no fantasy elements, no HUD, no checkpoints. Everything is based on pure human intuition and control.

There’s no official release date yet, but Death Stranding 2 is expected to launch in 2025 on PS5. It’s also expected to expand on the first game's story, with deeper emotional and philosophical themes.

The inclusion of real-life Bokka adds a powerful layer of authenticity. It turns the experience from just playing a fictional courier into something that feels human, grounded, and emotionally real.

This move by Kojima and his team bridges fantasy with reality in a way rarely seen in gaming.