Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s new trailer, complete with a release date, collector's edition details, box art, and more, has sent ripples of excitement through the fanbase. One particularly keen-eyed fan, Reddit user ReverseTheFlash, noticed a fascinating parallel between the game's box art and a piece of Metal Gear Solid 2 history.
The Death Stranding 2 box art depicts Sam "Porter" Bridges (Norman Reedus) cradling Lou, a familiar face to players of the first game. ReverseTheFlash’s post, titled "He did it again," juxtaposes this image with a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase featuring a strikingly similar composition: Japanese singer Gackt holding a child. While not identical, the resemblance is undeniable and has sparked much discussion.
This similarity highlights a curious aspect of Metal Gear Solid 2’s promotional history. Gackt's involvement extended beyond simple appearances; it included special slipcases for the game in certain regions, leading to the occasional surfacing of these intriguing, and sometimes confusing, pieces of MGS memorabilia.
Kojima himself explained Gackt’s prominent role in a 2013 statement: He chose Gackt for the MGS2 TV commercials because "MGS1 was about DNA & MGS2 MEME. DNA consists of 'AGTC', adding 'K' of KOJIMA becomes 'GACKT.'"
Given the distinct Metal Gear influences in Death Stranding 2's new trailer, the connection between the box art designs isn't entirely surprising. While it's likely a case of recurring thematic elements within Kojima's work, the parallel is undeniably fun to consider, offering a nostalgic trip back to a memorable Metal Gear Solid 2 promotional campaign featuring the unique Gackt.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
