Death Stranding: 26 Easter Eggs, Secrets & References You Must Find

25. Kōbō Abe

The game opens with a quote from Japanese writer Kōbō Abe's poem "Nawa," referring to the concepts of the rope and stick which, ultimately, are central to both Death Stranding's themes and gameplay.

But Kojima has been a lifelong fan of Abe's work, and the writer has had a profound impact on most of his career in the video game industry.

The Metal Gear Solid games are themselves influenced by Abe's poem "The Box Man," which was about a man who wore a large cardboard box over his head. Sound familiar?

So, if you thought that opening quote seemed a tad pretentious, it is at least consistent with the influences of Kojima's prior work.