Death Stranding 2 Box Art Echoes Metal Gear Solid 2

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s new trailer, complete with release date, collector’s edition details, box art, and more, has sent ripples of excitement through the fanbase. One particularly observant 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, played by Norman Reedus, cradling the child Lou, a familiar figure to players of the first game. ReverseTheFlash highlighted the striking resemblance to a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase featuring Japanese singer Gackt holding a child in a remarkably similar pose. While not an exact replica, the compositional similarities are undeniable and undeniably fun to spot. This also serves as a quirky reminder of a peculiar aspect of Metal Gear Solid’s (out-of-universe) lore.

Gackt’s prominent role in the Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty promotional campaign, including these unique slipcases, has generated intrigue and speculation among fans for years. The reason behind this collaboration was explained by Kojima himself in 2013: he chose Gackt because “MGS1 was about DNA & MGS2 MEME. DNA consists of ‘AGTC,’ adding ‘K’ of KOJIMA becomes ‘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 within Kojima’s oeuvre, the connection remains a delightful point of discussion for fans, offering a nostalgic trip back to a promotional campaign featuring the iconic Gackt.

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