Over the weekend, fans of Hideo Kojima's latest project were treated to a new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, along with exciting details such as a release date, a collector's edition, box art, and more. Amidst the excitement, eagle-eyed fans have spotted a delightful nod to Kojima's past work, Metal Gear Solid 2.
The box art for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features Sam "Porter" Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, cradling the child "Lou," a familiar character from the first game. A Reddit user named ReverseTheFlash shared an intriguing observation titled "He did it again," juxtaposing the Death Stranding 2 box art with a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase. The latter showcases Japanese singer Gackt holding a child in a similar pose. While not an exact replica, the similarity in composition is unmistakable and enjoyable to note. This also brings to mind the curious out-of-universe backstory of Metal Gear Solid.
In the lead-up to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty's release, Gackt was prominently featured in its promotional materials, including special slip-covers in certain regions. These have since become fascinating pieces of memorabilia that continue to intrigue and perplex fans. Kojima himself explained the rationale behind Gackt's involvement in 2013, stating that since Metal Gear Solid 1 was about DNA and Metal Gear Solid 2 about memes, the DNA code 'AGTC' combined with 'K' from Kojima results in 'GACKT'.
Given that the new trailer for Death Stranding 2 exudes strong Metal Gear vibes, it's no wonder fans are connecting the dots. While I believe any similarities are likely a reflection of recurring themes in Kojima's work, it's always fun to speculate and reminisce, especially with a promotional cover featuring Gackt.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
