Death Stranding 2 Controls Explained

Death Stranding 2 launches as a PS5 exclusive, and you will have to get acquainted with the controls to have an easier time making deliveries, not tripping and falling, and avoiding BTs and bandits. The basic controls are similar to what it was back in the first game.

Death Stranding 2: Basic and Vehicle Controls Explained

In-game, the controls are visible when you open the Ring Terminal (Options button), hit left on the D-pad to bring up the Ring Menu, and select System. The space on the right (as shown in the image) will display the Basic Controls, which you can then change to Vehicle Controls by pressing Triangle.

Death Stranding 2 Basic Controls

Button	Action
L2	Balance/Carry Cargo (LH)
L1	Odradek Scanner
Hold L1	Compass Mode
Hold Up on D-pad	Cargo Options
Hold Left on D-pad	Fieldwear
Hold Right on D-pad	Weapons/Tools
Hold Down on D-pad	Signs
Left Joystick	Movement
L3	Sprint
Left side on Touchpad	Photo Mode
Right side on Touchpad	Communication
Options Button	Pause/Ring Terminal
R2	Balance/Carry Cargo (RH)
R1	Crouch/Stand
Hold R1	Hold Breath
Triangle	Pick Up Cargo
Circle	Attack
Square	Perform Action/Interact
X	Jump/Keep Climbing
Right Joystick	Move Camera
R3	Switch Camera Left/Right

Death Stranding 2 Vehicle Controls

Button	Action
L2	Brake/Reverse
L1	Odradek Scanner
Hold L1	Compass Mode
Hold Up on D-pad	Cargo Options
Hold Left on D-pad	Lights On/Off
Hold Right on D-pad	Weapons/Tools
Hold Down on D-pad	Signs
Left Joystick	Steering
L3	Boost On/Off
Left side on Touchpad	Photo Mode
Right side on Touchpad	Communication
Options Button	Pause/Ring Terminal
R2	Accelerate
R1	Fire Equipped Weapon
Hold R1	—
Triangle	—
Circle	Drift (While Boosting)
Square	Exit Vehicle
X	Jump
Right Joystick	Move Camera
R3	Switch Camera Left/Right

In my experience, the Death Stranding vehicles have always been a little finicky to handle, especially the tri-cruisers. Be aware of the power left in your vehicle as you decide the route you want to take. If your vehicle runs out of battery before you reach the power grid, the destination, or a generator, you will have to ditch it and leave it for the solar cells to charge, which takes a long time. If you are in a region connected to the chiral network and there’s enough bandwidth left, you can use a PCC to create a generator. 

But if your vehicle is stuck on uneven terrain, it is best to go back and forth a bit to see if you can unwedge it. Using Jump is also a valid solution (but be aware that you might just shoot up in the air at times for reasons unknown). The tri-cruiser can paddle through water, as its tyres switch into some sort of a paddle/flipper. 

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We provide the latest news and create guides for Death Stranding 2. Meanwhile, you can check out the following Death Stranding 2 articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

• Death Stranding 2 Release Date Explored
• Death Stranding 2 PC port: Has a Release Date Been Confirmed?
• Death Stranding 2 Early Access, Explained