Over the weekend, fans of Hideo Kojima were treated to a new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, along with a release date, collector's edition details, box art, and more. As enthusiasts dove into the details, a fun connection to Kojima's past work, Metal Gear Solid 2, was spotted. The box art for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features Sam "Porter" Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, holding the child "Lou," a character familiar to players of the first game. Reddit user ReverseTheFlash highlighted this by posting "He did it again," showcasing the box art next to a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase with a strikingly similar motif.
The Metal Gear Solid 2 promotional material shows Japanese singer Gackt in a comparable pose, holding a child. While not an exact match, the similarities between the two covers are certainly intriguing and serve as a nod to a peculiar aspect of Metal Gear Solid's (out-of-universe) backstory. During the promotion of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Gackt featured prominently in various promos, including special slip-covers in certain regions, which have since become a curious piece of MGS memorabilia.
For those curious about Gackt's involvement in the Metal Gear Solid 2 campaign, Hideo Kojima explained in 2013 that he chose Gackt because MGS1 was themed around DNA, while MGS2 focused on memes. Kojima noted that DNA is composed of 'AGTC,' and adding 'K' for Kojima results in 'GACKT.' This playful connection adds a layer of depth to the promotional strategy.
Given that the new trailer for Death Stranding 2 exudes strong Metal Gear vibes, it's no wonder fans are drawing connections between the two works. These similarities might simply reflect recurring themes in Kojima's oeuvre, but they certainly spark fun speculation and nostalgia, especially when revisiting promotional materials like the cover featuring Gackt.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
