Hideo Kojima asked followers which was their favorite character from the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, and the winner was Higgs, played by Troy Baker, with 33.8% of the votes. The poll, conducted on social media, reflects the villain's weight in the narrative. Other characters like Fragile or Sam were left behind, showing interest in the return of this charismatic antagonist.
The Decima engine and motion capture in DS2 🎮
Kojima Productions uses the Decima engine, developed by Guerrilla Games, for Death Stranding 2. This engine allows rendering detailed landscapes and precise facial animations. Motion capture, key in Troy Baker's performance, is done with high-frequency sensors. The team also optimizes dynamic lighting and the physics system to maintain 60 fps on PS5, a notable technical challenge.
The poll Higgs won without campaigning 🏆
Higgs swept the vote with 33.8%, but no one told him. While fans voted, the character was probably still planning his rain tricks and monologues. The losers, like a mute Sam or a Fragile with less screen time, are already asking for a rematch. Kojima, from his office, smiles: he knows the villain sells more than the heroes.