Death Stranding 2: On The Beach got a new trailer over the weekend, along with release dates, collector’s editions, box art and more. And as fans cooperate in detail, I noticed a fun connection with the Kojima Expo’s past work, Metal Gear Solid 2.
Box Art for Death 2: Beach shows Sam “Porter” Bridge drawn by Norman Reedus. Reddit user Revers EtheFlash posted “He Did It Again” and shows his box art with a similar motif, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Slipcase.
The Metal Gear Solid 2 promotion shows that Japanese singer Gackt holds a child in a similar composition. It’s not one-on-one, but it’s certainly fun to note the similarities between the two covers. It also reminds me of the strange branches of Metal Gear Solid (outside of space) backstory.
In preparation for the game’s release, Gackt was featured in multiple promotions for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Some of it appears to include special slipcovers for games in several regions. This included a random MGS ephemera that has been intriguing and confused for years.
If you’re wondering why Gackt was so involved in the Metal Gear Solid 2 promotional campaign, Kojima provided an explanation in 2013. The reason I asked Gackt to say “MGS1” is about DNA & ‘MGS2 is that it is “Agtc.” “So, there’s that.
Given that the new trailer for Death Stranding 2 includes many metal gear vibes, it’s no surprise that fans are bringing out similarities here. Personally, I think the similarities are at best signs of repeated ideas throughout the Isle of the game. But even so, it’s fun to speculate and reflect on, and it’s always a good time to get off the Memory Lane with a promotional cover featuring Gackt.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will only be released on PlayStation 5 on June 26th, 2025.
Eric is an Passthecontroller freelance writer.
