Kojima Fans Notice Fun Link Between Death Stranding 2 and MGS2 Box Art

Over the weekend, fans of Hideo Kojima 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. Amidst the excitement, a keen-eyed fan noticed a delightful nod to Kojima's previous work, Metal Gear Solid 2. The box art for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features Sam "Porter" Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, cradling the child "Lou." This image echoes a promotional slipcase from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which showed Japanese singer Gackt in a similar pose with a child.

The Reddit user ReverseTheFlash shared this connection, posting "He did it again," highlighting the striking resemblance between the two artworks. While the compositions aren't identical, the similarities are unmistakable and add a layer of fun for fans to explore. This also serves as a reminder of an intriguing part of Metal Gear Solid 2's promotional history, where Gackt played a significant role in multiple promotional materials, including special slip-covers in certain regions.

For those curious about Gackt's involvement, Hideo Kojima explained in 2013 that he chose Gackt for the Metal Gear Solid 2 campaign because the themes of the games aligned with the singer's name. Kojima stated that while Metal Gear Solid 1 was about DNA and Metal Gear Solid 2 about memes, DNA is made up of the letters 'A', 'G', 'T', and 'C'. Adding 'K' for Kojima, it spells 'GACKT'.

Given the new trailer for Death Stranding 2 also carries 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 about the past, especially when it involves iconic promotional art featuring Gackt.

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