Death Stranding 2 Trailer: Shocking Metal Gear References Revealed!

by

Summary

  • The newest Death Stranding 2 trailer includes several nods to the Metal Gear franchise.
  • One character looks very similar to Solid Snake, while a giant robot looks identical to Metal Gear Rex.
  • Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will be released on June 26, 2025.

In the newly released trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, sharp-eyed viewers picked up on several evident homages to Metal Gear’s original hero and its iconic mechs. This is the first time that Metal Gear creator and director of Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima, has explicitly acknowledged the Konami-owned IP in his recent projects since departing from the company in 2015.

About ten years ago, Kojima and Konami went their separate ways following the successful launch of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. After their split, Kojima founded Kojima Productions and developed a fresh concept called Death Stranding, while Konami faced challenges in delivering a significant Metal Gear game, essentially putting the acclaimed series on hold for quite some time. However, by 2025, both parties appear to be thriving: Konami is planning to revive Metal Gear with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Kojima’s Death Stranding sequel is edging closer to release. Lately, the head of Kojima Productions unveiled a sneak peek at Death Stranding 2, piquing the interest of dedicated Metal Gear enthusiasts.

At the SXSW 2025 event, the latest Death Stranding 2: On the Beach trailer revealed a striking resemblance between one of its characters and Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. The new character, named Neil, sports a bandana and is surrounded by an armed squad like Cliff was in the first game’s trailers. Furthermore, a robot reminiscent of Metal Gear Rex, a mech featured in various Metal Gear titles, appears in the trailer as well. Fans of Metal Gear quickly noticed these references on social media and praised Kojima for acknowledging one of his most iconic works in the gaming industry. On Reddit, user CrisisCore4Ever exclaimed, “Metal Gear Solid 6 looks insane!” while another user marveled, “I can’t believe he truly went all out with the MGS references.

Kojima Drops Major Metal Gear References in New Death Stranding 2 Trailer

Enthusiastic Metal Gear aficionados didn’t miss the connection either. They recalled that Luca Marinelli, featured in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach as Neil, was previously noted by Kojima in June 2020 to bear a striking resemblance to Solid Snake. A dig through old Instagram posts by fans brought to light an earlier comment from Kojima, suggesting that Marinelli would look like the beloved Metal Gear protagonist if he wore a bandana.

To Metal Gear enthusiasts hoping for Kojima’s return to the stealth-action series, these new developments might appear exciting, but they are likely just subtle nods without any significant implications. The company that owns the IP, Konami, is independently deciding the future of Metal Gear and has plans to dramatically revamp one of its top-rated titles, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set for release in August 2025. Additionally, a launch date for Death Stranding 2 was announced with the latest trailer, with the game scheduled for June 26, 202x.

Read More

2025-03-10 19:12