Over the weekend, fans of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach were treated to a new trailer that not only provided a release date and showcased a collector's edition and box art but also sparked discussions about connections to director Hideo Kojima's past work, Metal Gear Solid 2. The box art for Death Stranding 2 features Sam "Porter" Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, holding the child "Lou," a character familiar to players of the first game. A keen-eyed Reddit user, ReverseTheFlash, pointed out a striking similarity by comparing this box art to a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase featuring Japanese singer Gackt in a similar pose with a child.
The post titled "He did it again" on the DeathStranding subreddit highlighted these parallels, noting that while not identical, the composition of the two covers is notably similar. This observation serves as a fun nod to fans and a reminder of the intriguing promotional materials from Metal Gear Solid 2, which included Gackt in various promotional campaigns and special slip-covers in certain regions.
For those curious about Gackt's involvement in Metal Gear Solid 2's promotion, Hideo Kojima explained in 2013 that he chose Gackt due to a thematic connection. He stated that while Metal Gear Solid 1 was about DNA and Metal Gear Solid 2 focused on memes, the DNA sequence "AGTC" plus the 'K' from Kojima forms "GACKT."
Given the new trailer for Death Stranding 2 has a distinct Metal Gear feel, it's no wonder fans are drawing connections between the two games. While I believe these similarities are more a reflection of recurring themes in Kojima's work, it's always enjoyable to speculate and reminisce, especially about a memorable promotional cover featuring Gackt.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
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