'Death Stranding' release date, news: Hideo Kojima studying parasites as part of research; Norman Reedus reveals major detail

"Death Stranding" director Hideo Kojima recently paid a visit to a parasitological museum as part of his research for the upcoming open world action video game.

Segment Next reported that Kojima visited the museum with his team. While it is unclear how parasites will inspire "Death Stranding," Kojima reportedly commented that his time at the museum reminded him of when he was doing research for "Metal Gear 5: The Phantom Pain," in which parasites were used as an instrument of terror.

Meanwhile, "The Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus, who serves as the main protagonist in "Death Stranding," recently gave fans a glimpse of the video game.

In a recent interview with MTV, Reedus opened up about his admiration for Kojima and revealed some interesting new details about his role.

"[Hideo Kojima], he's such a genius," the actor said. "I'm just doing whatever he says. He says, 'we will make people cry,' and I say, 'for a video game?' And he says, 'yup.' And I'm just, 'alright,'" he added.

Reedus' story is particularly interesting as it seems to point at a narrative in which "Death Stranding" players will literally be Reedus in the game's desolate new world.

In the "Death Stranding" trailer released at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, a naked Reedus was seen cuddling a baby who then turned invisible after he detached it from his belly. There was also an island full of dead whales, crabs and fish. The whole thing was so bizarre and yet so typically Kojima.

In an interview with Digital Spy earlier this year, the "Death Stranding" director spoke a bit about the trailer, specifically about Reedus, the baby's umbilical cord and the dead whales.

While Kojima said that talking more extensively about the trailer would be akin to revealing the killer in a horror film, he did manage to tie those three elements together and said that they are all connected.

"I want the story and the world and the gameplay, as well as the characters in the game and the player — the life and death elements — all to be tied together," he said. "That's the strong theme that is in this stranding concept," he said, alluding to the game's title.

"Death Stranding," which will be made available for the PS4, currently has no set release date.