The PC version of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is arriving with a robust suite of technical enhancements, signaling a commitment to delivering a polished experience for PC gamers. The game, which launched on PlayStation 5, is benefiting from optimizations that extend beyond what’s typically seen in console ports, according to recent analysis.
The arrival of titles like Resident Evil: Requiem, which has seen strong sales on PC, demonstrates the platform’s current strength. This momentum is bolstered by ports that arrive with substantial technical improvements. Death Stranding 2 is no exception, offering a range of features—some standard for PC gaming, others appearing for the first time in this title.
Nixxes, the studio responsible for the PC port, has focused on delivering a comprehensive experience. The game supports unlocked resolutions and frame rates, though cinematic sequences are capped at 60 fps. Support for ultrawide monitors, including 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios, is included, with Kojima Productions adjusting in-game framing to better suit these displays. These adjustments will too be available to console players, extending the benefits of the PC port to a wider audience.
Perhaps the most surprising addition is the implementation of PICO, a proprietary scaling technology developed by the Decima Engine team. While technologies like DLSS, FSR and XeSS are also supported, PICO operates directly within the game engine, allowing for more integrated and potentially optimized performance. This approach differs from external scaling solutions.
Testing revealed that PICO delivers impressive performance gains. While DLSS still provides the highest image quality, particularly when upscaling from 1440p to 4K, PICO significantly improves frame rates. For example, running the game natively at 4K yielded 60 fps with DLAA, while PICO boosted the rate to 90 fps. Death Stranding 2 does not include TAA, making a scaling solution necessary.
Ultrawide monitor support includes adjustments to in-game framing.
Dynamic Performance and New Gameplay Features
The integration of frame generation further enhances PICO’s capabilities. The port of Death Stranding 2 is highly scalable, allowing players with a range of hardware configurations to enjoy the game. A GeForce GTX 1660 is sufficient to run the game, while a GeForce RTX 4080 can achieve 4K resolution at 60 fps. The game also offers configurable scaling based on target frame rates, automatically adjusting settings to maintain a desired performance level. Ray tracing is also supported, marking its debut in a game built with the Decima Engine, though its impact is less pronounced than in other titles.
Minor issues were observed during extended gameplay, including occasional stutters during cinematic transitions, which were resolved by restarting the game. The option for path tracing was not included, though the game’s scalability suggests it could have been feasible. New content includes the option to start the game in “To the Wilder” mode, the most challenging difficulty setting, the ability to replay boss battles, and new real-action cinematics and nightmares for Sam.
As previously noted in its PlayStation 5 review, Death Stranding 2 is a more accessible and potentially more enjoyable experience. However, it also moves away from some of the unique elements of the original game.
- Nixxes and Kojima Productions have delivered an excellent, well-optimized PC port with numerous technical options.
- Support for ultrawide resolutions (21:9 and 32:9) includes custom-adjusted in-game framing.
- The Decima Engine’s proprietary PICO scaling technology debuts, significantly improving frame rates without relying on external layers.
- The title is highly scalable, allowing gameplay on hardware ranging from a GTX 1660 to 4K at 60 fps with an RTX 4080.
- New content includes the challenging “To the Wilder” mode, replayable boss battles, and new cinematics.
