In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima appears to be more committed than ever to alluding to his previous creations. The DHV Magellan vessel, which returns as the game’s central antagonist, resembles a great deal like the top of Metal Gear Rex. The latest trailer introduced Luca Marinelli’s role as Neil, who is the “spitting image of Solid Snake.” Moreover, the newly unveiled cover art strikingly mirrors a unique piece of Metal Gear Solid 2’s exclusive Japanese box art.
Death Stranding 2’s cover showcases Norman Reedus’s Sam in profile on the right side of the image, cradling baby Lou, who is positioned to the left against a plain white backdrop. This resemblance was swiftly noted on platforms such as Bluesky and Reddit, as it bears a striking similarity to the promotional slipcover for Metal Gear Solid 2’s Japanese release, featuring a male figure in profile on the right holding a child against a pristine white background.
The man depicted in the Metal Gear Solid 2 artwork is Japanese pop sensation Gackt, who fans of a certain age will likely remember for his roles in Final Fantasy 7 spin-offs Dirge of Cerberus and Crisis Core. Gackt also played a significant role in the Japanese marketing for MGS2, appearing in numerous commercials for the game, including one that featured imagery identical to that of the slipcover.
Back in 2013, Kojima tweeted that the “reason I asked GACKT to be in MGS2’s TVCM is ‘MGS1’ was about DNA & ‘MGS2’ MEME. DNA consists ‘AGTC’, adding ‘K’ of KOJIMA becomes ‘GACKT’.” (Yes, I also had to read that quote a few times to grasp its meaning.) Kojima has a peculiar fondness for making these sorts of unusual connections, which to me, dispels the notion that the similarity between DS2’s artwork and the Gackt image is mere coincidence.
Fans of Death Stranding have indeed been referencing the Gackt promotional image for years, as “man caring for baby” is rather integral to the open-world game’s overall visual identity. With Lou having escaped the confines of that peculiar little container from the first game, these themes are likely only becoming more prevalent in Death Stranding 2.
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