Death Stranding’s story is anything but simple, but the Death Stranding endings are satisfyingly succinct.
Before we move on, it’s really important we flag the rather obvious – there are a lot of Death Stranding story spoilers below. Despite its ostensibly convoluted nature, however, the narrative really does come full circle by the end of the game, its knots neatly tied into intricate little loops. Like any good tale, its ending is what ultimately defines the overall structure, where details are uncovered by forward progression but only truly understood in retrospect. Here’s what the Death Stranding ending actually tells us about its story as a whole.
Sam Porter Bridges had an unusual infancy. He already knew that he met Amelie on the beach, and was raised by UCA (United Cities of America) President Bridget Strand as if he were her own son. However, he never truly knew anything about his birth – or, perhaps more importantly, his second birth.
Over the course of the story, it gradually becomes clear that the man Sam is repeatedly forced to fight in dream sequences – Clifford Unger, portrayed by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen – is actually his father. Mads confuses Sam’s BB (bridge baby) for the one that was stolen from him years beforehand, but the connection he feels — the connection that ultimately ties him to this world even after death – is actually to Sam himself.
