How to Get Music Player in Death Stranding 2 (July 2025 Guide)

27th June, 2025

Ever since I first stepped into Sam Porter Bridges' boots in the original Death Stranding, one thing has haunted me: the inability to freely play those hauntingly beautiful soundtracks during my deliveries. Well, fellow porters, our prayers have finally been answered! Death Stranding 2: On the Beach introduces a fully-featured music player that lets you curate your own playlists and soundtrack your journey across the post-apocalyptic landscapes of Mexico and Australia.

After spending over 60 hours traversing this breathtaking world, I'm here to share everything you need to know about unlocking and mastering this game-changing feature. Trust me, once you experience delivering packages with your custom playlist humming in the background, you'll never want to go back to the silence.

Table of Contents

What's New: The Music Player Revolution

Unlike the first Death Stranding, where music was confined to Sam's private room or scripted story moments, the sequel gives you complete control over your auditory experience. This isn't just a simple music player – it's a robust system that fundamentally transforms how you experience the game.

The music player in Death Stranding 2 allows you to:

Create up to three custom playlists from your unlocked songs
Play music freely while exploring the open world
Access 52 unique tracks from various artists
Control playback with shuffle, repeat, and volume options
Experience dynamic music that adapts to gameplay situations

When Do You Unlock the Music Player?

The music player becomes available during Episode 3: Drawbridge in Australia, specifically when you complete Order No. 11: "Destroy the Communications Disruptor and Deliver the Mysterious Recording to the Musician." This typically happens around 8-10 hours into the main story, though your mileage may vary depending on how many side deliveries you tackle in Mexico.

Here's the exact timeline:

Complete the introductory missions in Mexico (Episodes 1-2)
Travel to Australia via the Plate Gate
Connect the basic facilities to the Chiral Network
Receive Order No. 11 from the DHV Magellan
Complete the mission to unlock the music player

Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking the Music Player

Step 1: Progress Through the Main Story

First, you'll need to complete the opening chapters in Mexico. This serves as an extended tutorial that reintroduces you to the game's mechanics. Focus on the main orders to progress quickly to Australia.

Step 2: Reach Australia and Connect Initial Facilities

After stepping through the Plate Gate to Australia, you'll complete several short deliveries to establish the Chiral Network down under. Connect these facilities in order:

The Lone Commander
Government Base
Western Environmental Observatory

Step 3: Accept Order No. 11

Once you've established these connections, Fragile will suggest checking for new orders at the DHV Magellan. This triggers Order No. 11, your ticket to musical freedom.

Step 4: Locate and Destroy the Communications Disruptor

The brigand camp housing the disruptor is located north of the Western Environmental Observatory. Here's how to find it:

If a road has spawned in your world (thanks to other players), follow it north until you spot the camp on your right
Without roads, stick to the left side of the mountain range as you leave the observatory
Look for a heavily fortified encampment with patrolling guards and a watchtower

Pro tip: The disruptor is positioned toward the northern section of the camp. You can approach this stealthily or go in guns blazing – your choice!

Step 5: Deliver to The Musician

After destroying the disruptor, continue heading north and up into the rocky mountains. You'll know you're on the right track when a beautiful song by Gen Hoshino begins playing in the background.

The path to The Musician can be tackled:

On foot via hiking trails
Using a tri-cruiser along paths marked by speed boosts and generators left by other players
Following timefall shelters that often indicate the correct route

Step 6: Connect The Musician to the Chiral Network

Upon delivering the mysterious recording, Sam will use his Q-Pid to bring The Musician into the Chiral Network. As a token of appreciation, Gen Hoshino (yes, the famous Japanese singer-songwriter playing The Musician) unlocks the music player feature.

Important: The music player isn't a physical item in your inventory. Instead, it's added as a new option in your Ring Terminal menu.

How to Use the Music Player

Once unlocked, accessing and using the music player is straightforward:

Accessing the Music Player

Press the Options button to open the Ring Terminal
Press Left on the D-pad to access the Ring Menu
Scroll down to find the Music Player option
Select it to open the music interface

Creating and Managing Playlists

The music player interface is divided into two main sections:

Left side: All unlocked songs in your collection
Right side: Your playlist management area

To create a playlist:

Select one of the three available playlist slots
Press R3 to cycle between playlists
Highlight a song and press X to add it to your playlist
Repeat the process to remove songs
Press Triangle to toggle shuffle/repeat options
Name your playlist for easy identification

Playback Controls

Square: Start/stop playing the current playlist
L1/R1: Skip to previous/next track
D-pad Up/Down: Adjust volume
Circle: Exit the music player (music continues playing)

Music Player Limitations and Smart Features

The music player in Death Stranding 2 is intelligently designed to enhance, not interfere with, your gameplay experience:

When Music Automatically Pauses

During major story cutscenes and dialogue
In areas with high chiral density
When entering BT (Beached Things) zones
During combat encounters with human enemies
In specific story-critical locations
During gate quakes and other environmental hazards

Where You Can Use It

The music player only functions in areas connected to the Chiral Network. This means:

✅ Connected facilities and their surroundings
✅ Roads and paths within network coverage
✅ Areas with active network towers
❌ Unexplored regions without network coverage
❌ Inside enemy camps before liberation
❌ The Beach or other supernatural locations

Complete Song List and How to Unlock Them

Death Stranding 2 features 52 songs from various artists. You start with several tracks unlocked immediately upon gaining the music player:

Starting Songs

Hania Rani — Dancing Ghosts (ft. Patrick Watson)
Woodkid — Any Love of Any King (ft. Bryce Dessner)
Several tracks from the game's opening chapters

Unlocking Additional Songs

New songs are unlocked through:

Story Progression: Major story beats automatically add their featured songs
Facility Connections: Increasing connection levels with preppers
The Musician's Deliveries: Completing orders for Gen Hoshino
Sub Orders: Certain side quests reward unique tracks
Finding Memory Chips: Hidden collectibles containing songs

Special Note: Low Roar and CHVRCHES return from the first game, delighting longtime fans with both familiar and new tracks.

Pro Tips for Maximum Musical Enjoyment

After extensive testing, here are my top tips for getting the most out of your music player:

1. Create Mood-Based Playlists

Delivery Playlist: Upbeat tracks for standard deliveries
Exploration Playlist: Atmospheric songs for discovering new areas
Combat Prep Playlist: Intense tracks for when you know trouble's ahead

2. Match Music to Terrain

Different songs hit differently depending on your environment. I've found that slower, more contemplative tracks work beautifully in snowy mountain regions, while energetic beats complement speedy vehicle sections.

3. Use Volume Controls Wisely

Keep your music at about 70% volume to ensure you can still hear important audio cues like:

BT breathing sounds
Timefall warnings
Package damage alerts
Other players' signs and warnings

4. Leverage the Shuffle Feature

Don't underestimate shuffle mode! It keeps long delivery sessions fresh and can create unexpected emotional moments when the perfect song plays at just the right time.

5. Complete The Musician's Orders

Players who favor Shotguns will especially benefit from completing a few deliveries for him, as many of the best upgrades for this weapon come directly from The Musician. Plus, you'll unlock exclusive tracks!

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Music Player Not Appearing in Menu

Ensure you've completed Order No. 11
Check that The Musician is connected to the Chiral Network
Try saving and reloading your game

Songs Not Playing

Verify you're in a Chiral Network area
Check if you're in a restricted zone (combat, BT area)
Ensure your playlist has songs added to it

Can't Add Certain Songs

Some tracks may be story-locked until specific chapters
Complete more deliveries to unlock additional music
Check facility connection levels

The Impact on Gameplay Experience

I can't overstate how much the music player transforms Death Stranding 2. What was once a contemplative, often lonely journey now becomes YOUR journey, soundtracked exactly how you want it. The ability to play Low Roar while climbing a mountain or blast energetic beats during a vehicle section adds a personal touch that makes every delivery feel unique.

The feature also addresses one of the biggest community requests from the first game. Having spent over a hundred hours on the original title and going into this sequel somewhat blind, without any prior information, discovering the music player was a sight to behold, because it was every porter's dream in the community to listen to the game's jaw-dropping soundtrack freely at their leisure.

Music Player vs Original Death Stranding

For context, here's how the sequel's music system compares to the original:

Death Stranding 1:

Music confined to private rooms
Scripted musical moments during specific story beats
Limited control over when music plays
Required building special structures for music in the field

Death Stranding 2:

Full music player with playlist creation
Play music anytime in connected areas
Complete control over your soundtrack
52 songs to collect and enjoy
Dynamic music that responds to gameplay

Looking Ahead: Post-Game Music Collection

Even after completing the main story and entering Episode 17 (the post-game free roam), you can continue collecting songs. This gives completionists another reason to max out facility connections and explore every corner of the map.

Some of the rarest tracks require:

5-star connections with specific preppers
Completing challenging sub orders
Finding well-hidden memory chips
Achieving certain porter grades

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the music player immediately when starting the game? A: No, you need to progress to Episode 3 in Australia and complete Order No. 11 to unlock it.

Q: Do I keep my unlocked songs in New Game Plus? A: At launch, Death Stranding 2 doesn't feature a traditional New Game Plus mode, but Episode 17 allows continued play after the story.

Q: Can other players hear my music in the shared world? A: No, your music choices are personal and don't affect other players' experiences.

Q: Does difficulty setting affect music player functionality? A: The music player works identically across all difficulty settings.

Q: Can I import my own music into the game? A: No, you're limited to the 52 in-game tracks, but this collection is extensive and excellently curated.

Q: Will the music player drain my equipment batteries? A: No, the music player doesn't consume any resources or affect your equipment.

Q: Can I change songs mid-delivery without opening the menu? A: Currently, you need to access the Ring Terminal to change tracks, though you can skip songs within your active playlist.

Final Thoughts

The music player in Death Stranding 2 represents more than just a quality-of-life improvement – it's a fundamental shift in how we experience Kojima's unique vision. By giving players control over their soundtrack, the game becomes even more personal and emotionally resonant.

Whether you're a returning porter or new to the world of Death Stranding, mastering the music player will enhance every moment of your journey. From those quiet moments crossing vast landscapes to the tension of approaching a BT zone, having your personally curated soundtrack makes everything more memorable.

So strap on those boots, load up your packages, and get ready to experience Death Stranding 2 the way it was meant to be played – with your favorite tunes keeping you company every step of the way.

Ready to dive deeper into Death Stranding 2? Check out our guides on how long to beat Death Stranding 2, whether you should play the first game before DS2, and our comprehensive list of all 17 episodes and 49 orders. Keep on keeping on, fellow porters!