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 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 Norman Reedus as Sam "Porter" Bridges cradling the child, Lou, a familiar sight 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 an exact replica, the resemblance is undeniable and playfully highlights a quirky aspect of Metal Gear Solid's promotional history. Gackt's prominent role in the Metal Gear Solid 2 marketing campaign, including these unique slipcases, has long been a source of intrigue among fans.

Kojima himself shed light on this unusual collaboration in 2013, explaining that his choice to feature Gackt was rooted in a thematic connection between the games' core concepts: "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 trailer, the connection between the two box arts isn't entirely surprising. While the similarities may simply reflect recurring artistic themes within Kojima's oeuvre, the comparison offers a fun moment of nostalgia and speculation, reminding us of the memorable promotional campaign featuring Gackt.

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