The completely limited-production Japanese edition of the Death Stranding novelisation, notable as the first published book officially produced in SteelBook format.
Release Date
28 February 2020
Format
Novel / SteelBook
Region
Japan
Publisher
Shinchosha
ISBN
978-4-10-353081-7
Author
Hitori Nojima
Original Work
Hideo Kojima
Edition
Completely Limited Production SteelBook Edition
Significance
Described by Shinchosha, following confirmation from SteelBook trademark holder Scanavo, as the world’s first book released in official SteelBook format.
Summary
Death Stranding Novelization SteelBook Edition (デス・ストランディング ノベライズ スチールブックエディション) is a Japanese collector’s edition of Hitori Nojima’s prose adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s 2019 video game Death Stranding.
The standard Japanese novelisation was originally published by Shinchosha’s Shincho Bunko nex imprint as separate upper and lower volumes in November 2019. For this edition, the two volumes were combined into a single specially sized book designed specifically to fit inside an official SteelBook case.
The resulting release deliberately crosses the conventions of books and physical video-game media. Its SteelBook uses original Death Stranding artwork by Pablo Uchida and was produced at approximately the same physical dimensions as SteelBooks commonly used for games and Blu-ray releases.
Release & Version Details
Shinchosha announced the edition in November 2019, with reservations opening several months before its eventual release on 28 February 2020. It was explicitly marketed in Japan as a completely limited-production release rather than a regular edition.
The enclosed novel measures approximately 120 × 160 mm, an unusual format chosen specifically to allow the complete combined novelisation to fit within the SteelBook.
The exterior artwork presents Sam Porter Bridges alongside major characters from the game, with Death Stranding Novelization and Shinchosha branding incorporated into the composition. The reverse adopts a much more restrained design, centred around the BRIDGES emblem, with Kojima Productions and Shinchosha identification along the lower edge.
Importantly, this is not simply a promotional SteelBook supplied alongside an otherwise conventional book: the SteelBook itself functions as the book’s cover and packaging, making the format integral to the edition.
Why It’s Significant
The most important aspect of this release is its unusual place in the history of SteelBook packaging.
When Shinchosha announced the edition, it stated that Scanavo — the Danish company behind the SteelBook trademark — had confirmed that a book being commercially issued in SteelBook format was unprecedented. Shinchosha consequently described the release as the world’s first SteelBook book edition.
This makes the item relevant beyond Death Stranding collecting. SteelBooks had already become established packaging for films and video games, but applying the format directly to a prose novel represented an unusual experiment in physical publishing.
Its significance is therefore derived from the combination of the Death Stranding franchise, Hideo Kojima and Hitori Nojima’s involvement, its limited Japanese production, and its unusual status within the history of SteelBook packaging.
Preservation Notes
The SteelBook should be treated as an integral component of the publication rather than as supplementary packaging. Copies separated from their specially sized novel are therefore incomplete.
As with other SteelBooks, the exposed printed metal surfaces are susceptible to fine scratches, scuffing and edge wear. Dark areas of the rear panel can make such marks particularly noticeable.
The unusual dimensions of the enclosed book are also useful for identifying the edition: it was specifically manufactured at approximately 120 × 160 mm to fit the SteelBook rather than simply reusing the standard Shincho Bunko nex volumes.
The ISBN 978-4-10-353081-7 specifically identifies this SteelBook edition.
Trivia & Interesting Facts
- The edition was announced on 1 November 2019, one week before the original Death Stranding game’s release.
- The SteelBook edition itself followed on 28 February 2020.
- Hitori Nojima had previously written novelisations connected with Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series.
- The complete upper and lower Death Stranding novels were recomposed into a single volume specifically for this edition.
- The SteelBook’s illustrated cover artwork was created by Pablo Uchida.
- Shinchosha consulted SteelBook trademark holder Scanavo when establishing its claim that this was the first book released using the format.
- Unlike the far more common SteelBooks containing optical discs, this case was engineered to contain a physical prose novel.
About the Snows Mini Preservation Project
This item has been documented as part of the Snows Mini Preservation Project, an ongoing effort to preserve and catalogue physical media. Our aim is to record releases, variations and their historical significance for collectors and future enthusiasts. Most items featured in the project form part of our archive and may not be for sale.
Photos
Death Stranding Novelization – SteelBook Edition | Hideo Kojima | Japan Import
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Introduction:
A Japanese limited-production novelisation edition of Death Stranding, based on the original work by Hideo Kojima and written by Hitori Nojima. Released in 2020, this distinctive collector’s edition presents the Death Stranding novelisation in a specially designed SteelBook package, combining the literary adaptation with premium presentation aimed at collectors of Kojima Productions and the Death Stranding series.
Platform:
Japanese novel / SteelBook Edition
Publisher:
Shinchosha
Region:
Japan
Language:
Japanese
Contents:
Death Stranding novelisation housed in its original SteelBook presentation. ISBN 9784103530817.
Collectibility notes:
Limited-production Japanese edition released in 2020. The novel combines the two-volume Death Stranding novelisation into a single 384-page edition, written by Hitori Nojima from Hideo Kojima’s original work. The SteelBook features original artwork by Pablo Uchida and makes this a particularly distinctive physical release within the Death Stranding series.
Condition:
Very Good. Well cared for and highly presentable, with minor signs of handling, use or storage. Consistent with its age and may show some shelving or storage wear. The steelbook has very minor surface scratching consistent with its age.
This item is part of our preservation project – click here for details.
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