Death Stranding 2’s First Major Patch Just Fixed the Biggest Complaint
March 19, 2026
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched to critical acclaim, but players quickly identified a few pain points. The first major post-launch update, Patch 1.02, addresses the most common complaints while smoothing out performance across all platforms.
The update began rolling out on March 15, 2026, and is now available for all players on PlayStation 5 and PC. Here is the complete breakdown of what changed.
Finally: Junk Deletion Arrives
The most requested feature since launch has finally been added. Players can now delete individual items from their inventory and private locker using a new “Junk” tab in the menu . Previously, unwanted items could only be discarded one by one or by recycling structures, which was time-consuming and frustrating for completionists.
The new system allows players to mark items as junk and then dispose of them in batches. This is particularly useful for clearing out low-level gear, excess materials, and those thousands of unused climbing anchors that accumulate over dozens of hours.
Kojima Productions noted that this feature was “highly requested” and thanked players for their patience in implementing it post-launch.
Here is the breakdown of Patch 1.02 changes:
| Category | Change | Details | Player Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Junk deletion system | Mark and batch delete unwanted items | High (quality of life) |
| Combat | Balance adjustments | Enemy damage scaling, weapon tuning | Moderate |
| Graphics | PS5 Pro enhancements | Better upscaling, PSSR improvements | High for Pro users |
| Performance | Frame rate stabilization | Micro-stutter fixes in open areas | Moderate |
| UI | Combat prompts | Better cooldown visibility | Minor |
Combat Balance Adjustments
The update includes significant tuning to combat mechanics. Enemy damage scaling has been adjusted to feel more balanced throughout the campaign, addressing complaints that some encounters became frustratingly difficult at higher difficulty settings.
Weapon tuning has also been adjusted, though Kojima Productions kept the changes relatively minor. The goal was to smooth out the experience rather than fundamentally rework combat.
PS5 Pro Enhancements
For players on PlayStation 5 Pro, Patch 1.02 delivers meaningful visual upgrades. The update improves upscaling quality and makes better use of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) technology. Players can expect cleaner image quality, especially in the game’s more visually complex open areas.
The base PS5 also receives optimization improvements, with better frame rate stability in regions that previously experienced minor stuttering.
Looking Ahead
Kojima Productions has hinted that this is just the first of several planned updates. While the studio has not announced a timeline, it acknowledged community requests for additional features, including expanded photo mode options and potentially new delivery contracts.