Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s new trailer, complete with a release date, collector’s edition details, box art, and more, has sent fans into a frenzy. One particularly observant Reddit user, ReverseTheFlash, noticed a fascinating connection to director Hideo Kojima's past work: Metal Gear Solid 2.

The striking similarity lies in the box art for Death Stranding 2. It depicts Sam “Porter” Bridges (Norman Reedus) holding the child, Lou, a familiar face to players of the first game. ReverseTheFlash highlighted this resemblance by juxtaposing the Death Stranding 2 art with a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase. Both feature a strikingly similar composition: a central figure holding a child. The Metal Gear Solid 2 image shows Japanese singer Gackt in a nearly identical pose.

While not an exact replica, the similarities are undeniable and fun to note. This observation also brings to light a curious, and somewhat obscure, piece of Metal Gear Solid lore.

Gackt's prominent role in the Metal Gear Solid 2 promotional campaign, including special slipcases in certain regions, has long intrigued and puzzled fans. Kojima himself provided an explanation in 2013, stating that he chose Gackt for the TV commercials because “MGS1” was about DNA (AGTC), and adding his initial “K” resulted in “GACKT.”

Given the noticeable Metal Gear influences in Death Stranding 2’s new trailer, these parallels are hardly surprising. While the similarities might simply reflect recurring thematic elements in Kojima's work, the connection is undeniably intriguing. It’s a fun trip down memory lane, especially for those who remember the unique promotional material featuring Gackt.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.