Curious about the new character in Death Stranding 2 that bears a striking resemblance to Metal Gear's Solid Snake? Dive into the details about Death Stranding 2's release date and pre-order options.

Death Stranding 2 Details Unveiled at SXSW 2025

10-Minute Pre-Order Trailer Highlights New Characters and Gameplay

Kojima Productions and Sony thrilled fans by announcing the release date for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (DS2) during the South by Southwest (SXSW) event on March 9, 2025, in Austin, Texas. The panel kicked off with a 10-minute trailer presented by DS2 Director Hideo Kojima, showcasing intriguing story snippets and dynamic gameplay footage. The trailer emphasized the ongoing theme of human connectivity in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Joining Kojima on stage were PlayStation’s Global Content Communications Manager Kristen Zitan, and key actors from DS2 including Norman Reedus, reprising his role as Sam Porter Bridges, Troy Baker, and French Music Director and Designer Woodkid. A significant highlight was the introduction of a new character, Neil, portrayed by Luca Marinelli, who leads a mysterious faction. Fans were quick to spot Neil's resemblance to Metal Gear's iconic character, Solid Snake, particularly due to the similar headband.

Hideo Kojima himself acknowledged this resemblance in a July 2020 Instagram post, noting that Marinelli's appearance with a bandana strikingly echoes that of Solid Snake. This new faction under Neil's leadership is poised to play a pivotal role in the narrative of Death Stranding 2.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5. To keep up with the latest updates and insights on the game, be sure to check out our comprehensive Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!