In the latest Death Stranding 2: On the Beach trailer, eagle-eyed fans noticed several obvious nods to Metal Gear's original protagonist and the franchise's mechs. This marks the first time that Metal Gear creator and Death Stranding 2 director, 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 ways after the successful release of Metal 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 IP Death Stranding, whereas the Japanese game publisher struggled to produce a noteworthy Metal Gear entry, essentially leaving the highly celebrated series in limbo for years. However, in 2025, things seem to be going well for both entities, with Konami's Metal Gear revival set to continue through Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Kojima's Death Stranding sequel also getting closer to release by the day. Most recently, the Kojima Productions head showed off a new look at Death Stranding 2, catching the attention of keen Metal Gear fans.
The Metal Gear series isn't known for its conventional narratives,...
