Summary
In the latestDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachtrailer, eagle-eyed fans noticed several obvious nods toMetal Gear’soriginal protagonist and the franchise’s mechs. This marks the first time thatMetal Gearcreator andDeath Stranding 2director, Hideo Kojima, has openly referenced the Konami-owned IP in his newer works since leaving the company in 2015.
Nearly a decade ago,Kojima and Konami parted waysafter the successful release ofMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. In the aftermath of the breakup, the renowned game director went on to establish Kojima Productions and create the brand-new IPDeath Stranding, whereas the Japanese game publisher struggled to produce a noteworthyMetal Gearentry, essentially leaving the highly celebrated series in limbo for years. However, in 2025, things seem to be going well for both entities, with Konami’sMetal Gearrevival set to continue throughMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eaterand Kojima’sDeath Strandingsequel also getting closer to release by the day. Most recently, the Kojima Productions head showed off a new look atDeath Stranding 2, catching the attention of keenMetal Gearfans.
Solid Snake from theMetal Gearfranchise was referenced in the recently revealedDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachtrailershowcased during the SXSW 2025 event. The new video depicts a bandana-wearing armed character named Neil, who bears a strong resemblance to theMetal Gear Solidprotagonist. Interestingly, the character is shown surrounded by an armed squad, just like Cliff was shown in one of the trailers for the first game. In addition to this, the trailer also depicts a giant robot that looks identical to Metal Gear Rex, one of themechs featured inMetal Geartitles. In no time at all,Metal Gearenthusiasts swiftly highlighted these similarities on social media and expressed their excitement about Kojima openly giving a nod to one of his most memorable contributions to the industry. In their Reddit post, user CrisisCore4Ever said, “Metal Gear Solid 6looks crazyyyyyy [sic],” whereas another user commented, “I can’t believe he really went all out with theMGSreferences.”
Kojima Drops Major Metal Gear References in New Death Stranding 2 Trailer
Certain excitedMetal Gearfans were also quick to point out that Luca Marinelli, who portrays Neil inDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach, is the same person who was labeled the “spitting image of Solid Snake” by Kojima way back in June 2020. In an oldInstagram postrecently excavated by fans, the former Konami dev could be spotted saying that Marinelli would look like thepopularMetal Gearprotagonist"if he donned a bandana."
While this may seem promising toMetal Gearfans who want Kojima to lead the stealth-action franchise again, these additions are likely simple references and nothing more. The owner of the IP, Konami, ischarting its own path ahead withMetal Gearand is set to give one of the franchise’s most highly rated titles a complete makeover withMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eaterin August 2025. A release date forDeath Stranding 2was finally revealed alongside the recent trailer, with the game set to be released on June 26.
