Did Solid Snake Show Up in Death Stranding 2's Trailer?

The highly anticipated sequel, Death Stranding 2, unveiled an exciting new trailer at the South by Southwest (SXSW) event on March 9, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Fans are buzzing about a new character that bears a striking resemblance to Metal Gear's iconic protagonist, Solid Snake. Dive in to discover more about Death Stranding 2's release date and pre-order details.

Death Stranding 2 Details Unveiled at SXSW 2025

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

Kojima Productions, in collaboration with Sony, announced the release date for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (DS2) during the SXSW event. The panel, led by DS2 Director Hideo Kojima, kicked off with a captivating 10-minute trailer. This trailer not only showcased new story snippets and gameplay footage but also emphasized the game's continued exploration of human connectivity in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Joining Kojima on the panel were PlayStation's Global Content Communications Manager Kristen Zitan, and DS2 actors Norman Reedus, reprising his role as Sam Porter Bridges, Troy Baker, and French Music Director and Designer Woodkid. The trailer introduced a new character, Neil, portrayed by Luca Marinelli, who leads a mysterious faction. Fans were quick to note Neil's uncanny resemblance to Solid Snake, particularly due to the character's headband.

Interestingly, Hideo Kojima himself acknowledged this similarity in an Instagram post from July 2020, where he mentioned that Marinelli looked strikingly similar to Solid Snake when wearing a bandana. The new faction led by Neil is poised to play a significant role in the narrative of Death Stranding 2.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is scheduled to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay updated with the latest news on the game by checking out our comprehensive Death Stranding 2: On The Beach article below!