Nintendo Pictures' Role in Death Stranding 2 Highlights Cross-Platform Collaboration

Nintendo Pictures, the Nintendo-owned studio renowned for its motion capture and visual content production, has been credited with contributing to the PlayStation 5 blockbuster Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

This collaboration underscores Nintendo Pictures' status as a creative force with a reach beyond Nintendo Switch exclusives, highlighting the company's history and expanding portfolio in AAA game development. Originally known as Dynamo Pictures, the company has long been involved in providing highly specialized motion capture services.

Its work with Hideo Kojima's original Death Stranding predates its 2022 acquisition by Nintendo, during which time the studio lent its talent to pivotal scenes integral to the narrative-driven PlayStation exclusive.

In a recent release, it was confirmed via official game credits—initially reported by Video Games Chronicle (VGC)—that Nintendo Pictures again played a role in motion capture for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, continuing its collaborative relationship with major industry players outside Nintendo's usual ecosystem. This move may surprise those who primarily associate Nintendo Pictures with prominent Switch titles.

Since joining the Nintendo corporate family, the studio has contributed to a suite of high-profile Nintendo Switch releases, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4, Super Mario Bros.

Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and Another Code: Recollection.

These credits cement Nintendo Pictures’ reputation for elevating first-party Nintendo experiences with sophisticated animation and capture technology. However, Nintendo Pictures' creative reach historically extends beyond gaming.

In partnership with Toei Animation, the studio has brought dynamic visuals to beloved anime franchises such as You and Idol Pretty Cure and Wonderful PreCure!.

Such collaborations exemplify Nintendo Pictures' diverse expertise across multiple entertainment mediums. Founded in 2011 as Dynamo Pictures, the studio quickly built a reputation for technological excellence, most notably with the Pikmin Short Movies that charmed viewers on both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops.

Positive reception to these projects paved the way for the 2022 acquisition by Nintendo, a strategic move intended to bolster Nintendo's internal capabilities in visual storytelling. Nintendo Pictures' ongoing contributions to non-Nintendo projects, such as Death Stranding 2, demonstrate a unique operational flexibility rarely seen among major first-party studios.

While now fully owned by Nintendo, the studio maintains the autonomy to support motion capture and animation pipelines for leading industry developers.

This cross-platform collaboration signals both Nintendo Pictures' industry-wide reputation and its potential to influence the gaming landscape beyond the boundaries of Nintendo Switch. With continued output spanning PlayStation 5 exclusives and a steady stream of acclaimed Nintendo Switch releases, Nintendo Pictures remains a compelling example of how game development talent can transcend platform lines in today’s interconnected gaming ecosystem.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo PlayStation PlayStation 5 Switch game development Death Stranding Death Stranding 2 Nintendo Pictures Sony Interactive Entertainment PS5 Dynamo Pictures Hideo Kojima Toei Animation Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Pikmin 4 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Super Mario RPG Another Code Recollection