The opening ofDeath Stranding 2features a cinematic journey with beautiful music, much like the original game. This time around, however, the song is Minus Sixty One by Woodkid - a French music video director and singer-songwriter. The song, originally featured on his 2020 album S16, dynamically plays as Sam and Lou trek their way home through the rocky mountain terrain, adjusting the beat and intensity of the song based on the pace and path of your journey.
However, if you didn’t already, you might actually recognise Woodkid from some of his past works within video game media. While this is his biggest project in the medium yet, with an entire album produced for Death Stranding 2, we can go back as far as 2011 to see where you might know the artist from.
Woodkid’s Music In Video Game Trailers Over The Years
At E3 2011, we got acinematic trailer announcing Assassin’s Creed Revelations, Ezio Auditore’s third and final game in the series. In this, we saw Ezio face off against waves of enemies, before seeing ghostly glimpses of Altair. The dramatic song used in this trailer is none other than Iron by Woodkid. Being the song that sparked my interest in the artist, this was a strong feature for this trailer, and in those prime days ofAssassin’s Creed, it was heard far and wide as excitement grew.
Jump a couple of years to 2013, and you might have heard one of Woodkid’s more iconic songs,Run Boy Run, used in an early trailer for Dying Light. This trailer depicted a group of survivors in the zombie-infested city racing across rooftops to reach a supply drop, as each one was slowly picked off by the dangers and infected.
Run Boy Run is one of Woodkid’s most recognisable songs of the time, as it was also featured in The Maze Runner and Divergent.
One more year ahead and we’re back with another Assassin’s Creed cinematic trailer; this time, it’sthe trailer for Unity that introduced the Templar character Elise. This trailer features The Golden Age by Woodkid, working in the upbeat sections for the parkour and brief combat, and the slow piano for the characters encountering one another.
If Not Those Trailers, Then Maybe In Arcane
Woodkid also produced a song for bothArcane Season 1 and 2, with Guns for Hire and To Ashes and Blood, respectively. Across both seasons, the series had a strong OST, which was partly thanks to both Woodkid tracks, which simultaneously captured the conflict and emotions in both. The songs are dramatic and distinct, alongside other great tracks such as Arcane Season 2’s The Line by Twenty One Pilots.
I’ve been a fan of Woodkid since I heard Iron in the Revelations trailer when I was 13, and now at 27, I couldn’t be happier to see the artist still hold such a strong and significant space in video game media, alongside his already incredible array of music videos and excellent scores. I’m only more eager to press on through Death Stranding 2 to hear more of Woodkid’s album weaved into the narrative, as I trust the artist with delivering on impactful moments to no end.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam—with companions by his side—sets out on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world beset by otherworldly enemies, obstacles and a haunting question: should we have connected?
