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 keen-eyed 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 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 sparks a fun conversation about the recurring themes in Hideo Kojima's work. This also serves as a reminder of a peculiar, and somewhat mysterious, aspect of Metal Gear Solid 2's marketing.

Gackt's prominent role in Metal Gear Solid 2's promotional campaign, including region-specific slipcases, has long been a source of intrigue among fans. Kojima himself shed light on this unusual collaboration in 2013, explaining that he chose Gackt because "MGS1" was about DNA and "MGS2" about memes. He playfully noted that DNA's components (A, G, T, C) plus his own initial "K" spell out "GACKT."

Given the noticeable Metal Gear influences in Death Stranding 2's trailer, the similarities between the two box art designs are hardly surprising. While these parallels may simply reflect recurring creative themes within Kojima's oeuvre, the connection nonetheless provides a delightful trip down memory lane for fans, particularly those who remember the unique promotional material featuring Gackt.

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