Episode 1 Section 1: The President of Jack Shit

Your first steps in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach! Learn how to navigate the ruins, use your cuff link, and take on your first main game contract with this walkthrough.

Alright, so you've just woken up handcuffed to a bed. Classic Sam. Deadman, the guy in the red coat, is here to explain the situation. He'll mention the loss of Central Knot City and drop some city names like Vredefort and Sudbury. Don't stress too much about the geography; these are likely new cities built after the Death Stranding, and the names might be a nod to massive impact craters – Vredefort is the biggest on Earth. Kind of a ominous choice, right?

Deadman will also show you how to use your cuff link. This thing is your lifeline – it's how you access your map, data, and stay connected with other Bridges members. Be warned, though: these guys can pop in to chat whenever they feel like it. It can be a bit much when you're trying to focus on a delivery, but hey, that's the job.

Your first real contract is here: the former President of the United States wants to see you. Apparently, the only way to make that happen is to get her to make a delivery. Weird, but okay!

After that, you'll gain control. You'll be carrying morphine. You can carry it by hand, but I highly recommend putting it on your back. Carrying things by hand means you have to hold the button down the whole time, and unless it's super fragile, it's usually more trouble than it's worth.

Head up the ramp and across the road. Deadman will pop up again – see what I mean about the cuff links? He'll tell you to check your map (press Options) and your compass (press L1). He'll even remind you again after you've barely moved. Sam's got the patience of a saint, honestly.

Don't worry about any Lost Cargo or side objectives right now. This run isn't about speed or distance; you're not being graded. Take your time to look around the ruins of the old city. It's a bit unclear exactly where this is – somewhere near D.C. or Baltimore, maybe? You'll notice a lot of old-school phone booths scattered around, which is pretty odd for this era.

If you just want to get to your destination, cross the road and head right. You'll see a big red 'Off Limits' hologram blocking one path. Take the road to the left that slopes down. You'll go into the ruins and under a freeway, passing all those phone booths.

Make a right, then a left, and you'll see your destination ahead. It's a pretty straightforward path. This area is the isolation ward, where sick people are kept. You might spot a few orange Corpse Disposal trucks as you take the elevator up.

Back in the cutscenes, you'll get your first look inside the Knots. Sam meets Deadman again, and then you're introduced to Die-Hardman, who's basically the President's right-hand man and the director of Bridges.

Next, you'll talk to the President in what looks like the Oval Office, complete with futuristic holodecks. She's dying of cancer and has a big task for Sam: help rebuild America. After she passes, you'll see some other key NPCs appear, like Mama and Heartman, who you'll be interacting with a lot later on.

With the President gone, Deadman and Die-Hardman have to figure out how to handle things. Die-Hardman's plan to hide her death seems a bit shady, but they need to get the body out of town, and Sam's now officially roped into another contract.