So this isn’t your ordinary DS post. In fact, this might turn out to be a very personal post. I tried to put it into a few Instagram stories, but I don’t think I can express talking. I think I was born to write stuff in a sense. A few of you might know either because you follow me on Twitter or you saw this post or because you follow them on social media that I was a guest at Death Stranding Podcast, that went live on Sunday/Monday. You can take a listen to it and hear all our amazing chat over there.

By the end of the episode I shared that this last two years have been really rough on me, and specially since July last year, when I started to descent into a terrible episode of major depression, crippling anxiety disorder and also I happen to have chronic pain due to fibromyalgia - which I usually tell people is when mental pain overflows and pours into your muscles and bones. I had to leave my job and I had to take two medical leaves last semester on college.

Not over three months ago new medicine started to work and I remember that it was such a relief to be able to be myself again, but the most important thing was that I decided to - don’t you know it - sit down and write Unraveling Death Stranding. It was an idea I had for a long time, but I couldn’t really bring myself to do it. Looking back, it was good timing, because I started writing and most of you remember that the release date reveal trailer dropped in June.

The reception was great! I was really proud of what I had done, specially because English isn’t my first language so it wasn’t a walk in a park. In fact, a Brazilian website published an article on it and - don’t you know it - I am Brazilian and right now I’m working on translating this thing to my own language since many people asked for it.

However, I don’t think that in my wildest dreams I would think something like what happened on Sunday/Monday would happen. Turns out, I could afford the Deluxe Edition and I’m very fortunate on this regard, but I got pretty bummed when I heard there would be a book on The Art of Death Stranding. It’s not cheap - everything costs at least 4 or 5 times more in Brazil, plus preparation and posting costs which sometimes are more expensive than the item itself.

So when I was on the podcast as a guest, Albert and Johnny were absolutely incredible and lovely people, and I couldn’t really believe when Albert said they would do their best to send me the book. I was so overwhelmed with kindness and also respect I just couldn’t process everything and to be honest, I can’t just yet. It feels absolutely surreal to me that people from all across the globe, with total different backgrounds and cultures were coming together to start a fundraiser so I could have access to this book at the same time as they will.



And in two fucking days the goal was reached and I am totally in the bring of tears the whole time. So I just wanna take a few moments to thank Albert, Dani, Johnny, Nav, Ashler, Arctickami and Maria for your donations. You are dear to me and I’ll always have your kindness and selflessness in my heart. I don’t know if I’m really worth this. But I know these few days have been some of my best yet and this was, by far, one of the loveliest and heartwarming experiences of my life. I just can’t thank you enough and I hope someday I can give you back.

Kojima says this game is about stands and connections and people. And here we stand, as an community, as friends and family, connecting from all across the globe. Literally. From Brazil to Australia. This game has changed my life for the better, even though I haven’t played it yet. This is the kind of experiences that make any game special - how we connect to it not only by playing, but also by how invested you are on it, emotionally and mentally.



Six months ago I thought my BTs would consume me and take me to Hades. Now I have so much light and I have hope, and I owe it to you - I can’t lie about this kind of shit. Today and here I leave my darkest days behind, for good.



Thank you, kindly



Anna Peixoto

