Kojima Productions just announced that the Hololive VTuber Usada Pekora will be featured in the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach video game, causing a bit of a stir online.

If you're unaware of her, Pekora is one of the most popular members of Hololive and is also one of the most-watched female VTuber streamers currently.

Yesterday, on May 29th, Hideo Kojima's video game studio revealed that Pekora will appear in the game as a “Prepper” — a character who assists the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, on his journey.

The announcement received a lot of positive feedback from fans of the game and the VTuber, especially as Kojima is fairly known for casting an array of celebrities in his video game franchises.

That being said, it's safe to say people were a bit caught off guard that a Hololive streamer was among the game director's casting choices, prompting a slew of reactions.

But who exactly is Usada Pekora, and how did the anime girl with bunny ears become one of the most popular streamers on YouTube and Twitch? Additionally, what's known about her appearance in Death Stranding 2? Let's explain.

Who Is 'Usada Pekora'?

Usada Pekora is part of the third generation of Hololive VTubers, debuting in July 2019 on YouTube and Twitch. The creator is known for hosting gaming streams and other entertainment content.

Her character is depicted as an anime-style anthropomorphized rabbit, wearing a stylized bunny suit, which was designed by Japanese illustrator Hagure Yuuki.

According to February 2025 data from Streams Charts, an analytics website that tracks online streamer viewership, Pekora had the most-watched hours at a whopping 6.57 million, placing her in the first position in the most-watched VTubers rank.

If you're curious about the VTuber content and how she captivated so many fans over the years, the video posted by @DreamWorldWitch in November 2021 offers a handy beginner's guide to Usada Pekora.

How Is 'Usada Pekora' Appearing In 'Death Stranding 2'?

In late May 2025, the Official Kojima Productions English X / Twitter account (@KojiPro2015_EN) posted a clip showing the Death Stranding 2 protagonist interacting with Usada Pekora, which teases the inclusion of the VTuber in the post-apocalyptic game.

New connection confirmed. 🐰#DeathStranding2 pic.twitter.com/AM0YNZEGGz

— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) May 29, 2025

Pekora's inclusion as a "Prepper," people who live alone or with their families in isolated bunkers in the game's universe, will allow players to interact with the character during their delivery missions.

So far, no specific details have been revealed yet about her role in the main story or what type of missions she will offer the protagonist, so we'll have to wait for more information.

How Is 'Usada Pekora' Used In Memes?

As with most big-name VTubers, Usada Pekora is widely featured in memes for her distinctive and humorous traits, especially her unique laugh meme, which is reflected in fan YTPs and translated stream clips.

The peculiar way the VTuber laughs is often associated with arrow shapes in general. Pekora is aware of her odd laugh, and will sometimes laugh using her own name (PE↗KO↘PE↗KO↘, or sometimes PEKO↗PEKO↗) for comedic effect.

The VTuber frequently streams Let's Plays of Minecraft and is both highly competitive and will actively seek to harass other Hololive members in-game, much to her fans' amusement.

The content is also one of the main meme sources used by her fans.

What Are Some More 'Usada Pekora' Memes and Fan Art?

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For the full history of Usada Pekora, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.