At SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, the legendary Hideo Kojima took the stage to drop an absolute bombshell of a new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach—and WOW, it did not disappoint!
Alongside the stunning new footage, he also confirmed the game’s official release date: June 26, 2025 – exclusively on PlayStation 5. Those who grab the Digital Deluxe Edition or Collector’s Edition get two days early access starting June 24. (More details on the Collector’s Edition here.)
But let’s get real—what truly set the internet on fire was the 10-minute-long trailer, jam-packed with cinematics, gameplay, and jaw-dropping reveals. And the BIGGEST shock? A new character who’s giving off MAJOR Metal Gear Solid vibes.
Neil: The Snake-Like Mystery Character
Fans (including me, freaking out in real time) immediately noticed something familiar about one of the new characters—Neil, played by the incredible Luca Marinelli. In one of the most hype-inducing moments of the trailer, Neil ties a bandana around his forehead—a move that’s basically Metal Gear 101.
For those of us who’ve worshipped Kojima’s work for years, this moment screamed Solid Snake or Big Boss energy. Even crazier? Back in 2020, Kojima literally said on Instagram:
“I think if [Luca Marinelli] donned a bandana, he’d be the spitting image of Solid Snake!”
WELL. HERE. WE. ARE. 🎤🔥
Neil isn’t just a lookalike either—he’s leading a special forces unit, and they’ve got skull motifs, cigarettes, and an overall tactical ops aesthetic. This feels like a huge evolution from the first Death Stranding, shifting away from just traversal gameplay and into stealth, combat, and tactical squad-based action—aka, tactical espionage action.
Metal Gear Rex… Is That You?
Then there’s the DHV Magellan, a ship that, partway through the trailer, fuses with a massive tar-based entity to become Magellan Man—and let’s be real, this thing looks exactly like Metal Gear Rex. The resemblance is uncanny, and the way it moves only fuels the theory that Kojima is giving us a Metal Gear successor without actually calling it that.
And guess what? A 15-inch statue of Magellan Man comes with the Collector’s Edition. Yep, Kojima knows exactly what he’s doing with this one.
Kojima’s Not-So-Secret Metal Gear Universe?
Between Neil’s Snake-like appearance, the Metal Gear Rex-inspired mechs, and the fact that the new in-game President is voiced by Alastair Johnson (aka Senator Armstrong from Metal Gear Rising), it’s hard not to see the connections. Konami might own the rights to Metal Gear, but Kojima is out here winking at fans in the most blatant way possible.
It’s almost like he’s building an alternate universe where Metal Gear never ended—and I am 100% here for it.
Norman Reedus Returns – Because This Man is Everything!
Of course, let’s not forget the GOAT himself, Norman Reedus, reprising his role as Sam Porter Bridges. After carrying the first Death Stranding on his back (literally), he’s back for another emotional, eerie, and insane journey. Every second of his screen time in the trailer is a blessing, and I already know he’s about to deliver a next-level performance again.
The game carries the haunting tagline:
“Should We Have Connected?”
If Death Stranding was about rebuilding connections, it looks like DS2 is going to question everything we thought we knew—because let’s be real, Kojima is always five steps ahead of us.
Final Thoughts – Kojima, You Mad Genius
Every single second of this trailer screams Kojima at his best—mind-blowing visuals, cryptic storytelling, deep themes, and a healthy dose of Metal Gear nostalgia. Whether or not this is technically connected to Metal Gear, the spirit of it is alive and well in Death Stranding 2.
June 26 can’t come soon enough. Kojima, Norman Reedus, and what looks like a Metal Gear revival in disguise? Game of the Year contender already.
