Over the weekend, fans of Hideo Kojima's work were treated to a new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which also revealed the game's release date, a collector's edition, box art, and more. As the gaming community delved into the details, an intriguing connection to Kojima's previous work, Metal Gear Solid 2, emerged. The box art for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features Sam "Porter" Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, cradling the child "Lou," a familiar character to players of the original game. A Reddit user, ReverseTheFlash, highlighted this connection by posting a comparison with a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase featuring a similar motif.
He did it again by ReverseTheFlash in DeathStranding
The Metal Gear Solid 2 promotional image shows Japanese singer Gackt in a similar pose, holding a child. While not identical, the visual parallels are striking and serve as a nod to Kojima's creative history. This also brings to mind the peculiar promotional efforts surrounding Metal Gear Solid 2, where Gackt was prominently featured in various marketing materials, including special slipcovers in certain regions, leading to some intriguing and confusing collectibles over the years.
Kojima himself explained Gackt's involvement in a 2013 interview, stating that the reason he included Gackt in Metal Gear Solid 2's TV commercials was tied to the game's thematic focus. He noted that while Metal Gear Solid 1 was about DNA, Metal Gear Solid 2 focused on memes. He playfully pointed out that DNA consists of 'AGTC,' and adding 'K' for Kojima results in 'GACKT.'
Given the new trailer for Death Stranding 2 exudes strong Metal Gear vibes, it's no wonder fans are drawing these connections. While I believe any similarities are more a reflection of recurring themes in Kojima's work, it's always enjoyable 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.
