Hideo Kojima Fans Spot a Fun Similarity Between Death Stranding 2's Box Art and Metal Gear Solid 2

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 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 figure to players of the first game. ReverseTheFlash highlighted the striking resemblance to the Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase featuring singer Gackt holding a child in a remarkably similar pose. While not identical, the compositional similarities are undeniable and have sparked much online discussion.

This visual echo is a fun reminder of a peculiar chapter in Metal Gear Solid's promotional history. Gackt's involvement in the Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty campaign, including these unique slipcases, has long been a source of both intrigue and head-scratching among fans.

The reason behind Gackt's prominent role was explained by Kojima himself in 2013. He stated that he chose Gackt for the MGS2 commercials because "MGS1" was about DNA and "MGS2" about MEMES. DNA's components are 'AGTC,' and adding 'K' for Kojima creates 'GACKT.' A rather unique and memorable explanation.

Given the distinct Metal Gear influences visible in Death Stranding 2's trailer, these visual parallels are hardly surprising. While the similarities might simply reflect recurring thematic elements in Kojima's work, the connection remains a delightful conversation starter for fans and a nostalgic trip back to the memorable promotional campaign featuring Gackt.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach arrives on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5.