I Can Play This Game So I Ask Again… How Is Duran Duran’s Invisible Associated with Metal Gear?

Duran Duran’s song “INVISIBLE” is having a totally unexpected second life, this time in the hands of gamers, TikTok editors, and, Fortnite fanatics. You heard that right. One minute you’re stealthily crawling through Metal Gear Solid, and the next you’re hit with synthy vibes and Simon Le Bon’s haunting vocals. Not exactly what Hideo Kojima had in mind, but honestly? It works.

In late 2023, edits featuring Metal Gear Solid set to Duran Duran’s “INVISIBLE” began circulating widely across fan communities, especially on TikTok and YouTube. These clips often explored character arcs or lore moments from the franchise, adding emotional weight with the song’s bad-ass vibe. A standout example dropped on December 9, 2023, when YouTube creator @thatfamouslake shared a Metal Gear Solid V fan edit soundtracked by “INVISIBLE.” The video quickly caught fire, racking up over 190,000 views and thousands of likes within just four months. Not long after, another creator, @444angelheart7, posted a similarly styled MGSV edit. Though newer, the video still managed to pull in more than 4,600 views and a couple hundred likes in its first month—proving that the trend had real staying power.

On February 5, 2024, DuranDuranies.com (hi, that’s us!) was the first to break the story: the iconic band’s song “INVISIBLE” was being used in TikTok edits and MODs (short for modifications) set to scenes from Metal Gear Solid. Cue a wave of gamers crafting their own interpretations, complete with And inspiring boozy drink recipes inspired by the track. Soon after, the official Duran Duran TikTok account got in on the fun, and things snowballed in the best possible way.

Why? Because a voiceless crowd isn’t backing down, obviously.

So… What is Metal Gear?

Metal Gear (and Metal Gear Solid or MGSV) is a stealth action video game series where the player controls a Special Forces Operative on a mission to confront the superweapon “Metal Gear,” a nuclear-capable walking tank. The series is known for its cinematic cutscenes and complex storylines exploring politics, warfare, science (particularly genetics), and philosophical themes like free will and artificial intelligence. The genre blends realism with supernatural elements, offering background on real science and technology. In the game, the player controls Solid Snake, a military operative tasked with infiltrating an enemy base without being seen. If spotted, the game enters “Alert Mode,” and Snake must escape the enemy’s sight to resume infiltration. Most of the Duran Duran INVISIBLE edits include Snake.

Created by Hideo Kojima, the renowned Japanese video game designer, director, and producer, and developed by Konami, Metal Gear is known for its complex narrative, innovative gameplay, and cinematic presentation. The series pioneered the stealth genre, emphasizing evasion, strategy, and tactics over direct confrontation. Players often have to avoid detection by enemies, use various tools and gadgets, and think creatively to complete missions. This approach to gameplay was groundbreaking at the time of its release and set the standard for future stealth games. The game is also its intricate and sometimes convoluted plot, filled with political intrigue, deep character development, and philosophical themes. It often explores issues like nuclear proliferation, the nature of warfare, and the consequences of technological advancements. The storytelling is rich, with detailed cutscenes and in-game dialogue that create an immersive experience.

Fun Fact: Hideo Kojima Might Be a Secret Celebrity Duranie

Okay, we can’t prove this, but Kojima has been spotted on social media with a copy of Duran Duran’s Paper Gods album. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe he knew all along that a stealth game and synth-pop heartbreak would one day become the internet’s favorite pairing.

Edits, MODs, and TikTok Fame

For those who were born before Duran Duran’s first album was released, an “edit” is a custom video mash-up, often layered with dramatic music, visual effects, and slow-mo clips that tug at your soul. It’s art, really. And Duran Duran’s “INVISIBLE” has become a sort-of anthem for game-players who are connecting with the lyrics.

Why? The lyrics hit. Hard.

“I can’t play this game, so I ask again
Will you say my name?
Has the memory gone? Are you feeling numb?
Or have I become invisible?”

Many Metal Gear fans agree that Duran Duran (accidentally) wrote the perfect song for the game.

Thousands of TikTok videos have been created using game imagery and the track, showcasing Solid Snake walking lonely corridors, emotional boss battles, and quiet moments of existential dread. It’s peak gamer nostalgia meets the Duranieverse.

And, shoutout to @dripsnake44 for the edit that went semi-viral after being shared on Duran Duran’s official TikTok. Thousands of likes, countless reposts, and the rest is history.

The trend has expanded to Fortnite and other gaming platforms where users are creating custom emotes where characters from the game dance and move to the song. Don’t believe us? Just look at the Invisible Duran Duran Fortnite Emote category on TikTok.

Invisible Top 5 Most Streamed Duran Duran Song

Still not convinced of the influence of video games on Duran Duran’s music? “INVISIBLE” has climbed to Duran Duran’s top five songs on popular streaming platforms like Spotify, standing alongside classics such as “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Save a Prayer,” and “Ordinary World.” This means the younger generation is listening – and they’re liking.

Describing the music of “Invisible,” singer Simon Le Bon told BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show that “it kind of started with the beat. It’s got a very, very assertive drum track. It’s really all about the rhythm.”

Huxley and the Invisible Video

“INVISIBLE” (released on 19 May 2021), was the debut track from the Duran Duran’s fifteenth studio album, ‘FUTURE PAST,’ produced by Mark Ronson. Much of the music and lyrics were written during the COVID-19 lockdown. Released with a groundbreaking music video on May 21, 2021, the visual masterpiece was crafted in collaboration with ‘Huxley,’ an innovative artificial intelligence developed by Nested Minds Solutions.

Huxley was given images of the band, the music and lyrics of INVISIBLE, video of the band shot on an iPhone, and other information. The AI then created the video for Invisible with no interference from humans. It was the very first collaboration of its kind between musicians and an artificial being. “INVISIBLE” was mixed with an immersive #360RA experience in mind and was scientifically optimized for use with headphones.

It marked the first time a music video by a major artist had been created completely by artificial intelligence. The result? A surreal, futuristic, and emotionally resonant visual that felt right at home alongside the song’s themes.

Simon Le Bon described “INVISIBLE” as one of the first songs the band finished with producer Erol Alkan. Lyrically, the track begins as an intimate story about a strained relationship—someone feeling ignored or unseen—but then evolves into something much bigger. As Le Bon noted, the lyrics touch on the collective voice of those who feel unheard, evoking real-world movements like Black Lives Matter, where communities come together to demand change.

Duranies are not suprised by the band’s willingness to dabble down the road less traveled. They’ve always been pioneers in the music industry. In 1997, they were the first band to sell a single digitally, when they released Electric Barbarella via the internet. “Technology moves forward. I pushed the button on the world’s first download that was ever sold online, it was 1997. This is the tip of the iceberg,” said Nick Rhodes.

Meet The Legends of Metal Gear

Solid Snake

Solid Snake, also known simply as Snake, is the main protagonist in much of the Metal Gear series. He is portrayed as a stoic, highly skilled soldier with a strong sense of duty and a sharp intellect. Snake is often seen as a reluctant hero, burdened by the weight of his missions but driven by a deep sense of responsibility. Despite his tough exterior, Snake shows compassion and a deep understanding of the human condition, making him a complex and relatable character.

Solid Snake is a clone of the legendary soldier Big Boss, created as part of a secret government project known as “Les Enfants Terribles.” Throughout the series, Snake is frequently called upon to thwart the plans of various rogue military factions, often involving the Metal Gear mechs—giant, bipedal war machines capable of launching nuclear missiles.

In Metal Gear Solid (1998), Snake is sent to Shadow Moses Island to neutralize a terrorist threat led by his twin brother, Liquid Snake, who plans to use a new Metal Gear model to launch a nuclear strike. This mission sets the tone for the rest of the series, as Snake confronts his own origins, the ethics of warfare, and the consequences of his actions.

Big Boss

Big Boss, originally named Naked Snake, is one of the most complex and morally ambiguous characters in the Metal Gear series. He starts as a highly skilled and loyal soldier but evolves into a war-hardened leader with his own ideals and philosophies about war and soldiers’ roles. Big Boss is often seen as a tragic figure—someone who began with noble intentions but was gradually corrupted by the harsh realities of war and betrayal.

Big Boss is initially introduced as a legendary soldier and the main antagonist in the original Metal Gear games. However, his backstory is explored in later titles, particularly in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), where he is portrayed as Naked Snake, a special forces operative during the Cold War.

Naked Snake’s mission in Snake Eater involves stopping his former mentor, The Boss, who has defected to the Soviet Union. After a series of harrowing events and moral conflicts, Snake is forced to kill The Boss, a turning point that leaves him disillusioned and scarred. This experience sets him on the path to becoming Big Boss, a leader who seeks to create a world where soldiers are free from the control of governments, leading to the establishment of his mercenary nation, Outer Heaven.

Big Boss’s story is one of idealism corrupted by experience, as he moves from being a loyal soldier to a revolutionary leader willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his vision of a world where soldiers are not just tools of war.

Revolver Ocelot

Revolver Ocelot is a cunning, charismatic, and enigmatic character known for his skill with revolvers and his love of the Wild West. He is a master manipulator and a triple agent, often playing multiple sides against each other for his own mysterious ends. Ocelot is loyal to Big Boss and shares his vision, but he also has his own hidden agendas, making him one of the most unpredictable and intriguing characters in the series.

Ocelot’s story is one of loyalty and deception, as he maneuvers through the complex web of the Metal Gear universe, always with a larger plan in mind. His actions often drive the plot forward, and his true intentions are usually revealed only at the end, adding layers of intrigue to the narrative.

The story spans almost the entire Metal Gear timeline. He first appears in Metal Gear Solid (1998) as a member of the terrorist group FOXHOUND and one of the primary antagonists. However, his true allegiance and motivations are far more complex. Throughout the series, Ocelot is revealed to be working behind the scenes, often in the service of multiple factions, including the Patriots—a shadowy organization controlling global events.

Ocelot’s origins are explored in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater as a young GRU major who crosses paths with Naked Snake. Over the course of the series, Ocelot is shown to have deep connections with Big Boss, eventually becoming one of his most trusted allies. His ultimate goal is to help Big Boss achieve his vision, even if it means manipulating everyone around him.

Duran Duran INVISIBLE Lyrics

(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)

(Shy one) Walking by the wall
(Shy one) The shadows will not fall
(Shy one) Is silently ignored
(Quiet one) Discouraged by the noise
(Quiet one) Living without choice
(Quiet one) Is a life without a voice

When you can’t even say my name
Has the memory gone? Are you feeling numb?
Go and call my name
I can’t play this game, so I ask again
Will you say my name?
Has the memory gone? Are you feeling numb?
Or have I become invisible?

(Sky light) That dreamers wish away
(Hindsight) Is falling on my face
(Highlights) The shape of my disgrace

When you don’t hear a word I say
As the talking goes, it’s a one-way flow
No fault, no blame
Has the memory gone? Are you feeling numb?
And have I become invisible?

(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)
(Invisible)

And no one hears a word they say
Has the memory gone? Are you feeling numb?
Not a word they say
But a voiceless crowd isn’t backing down
When the air turns red
With their loaded hesitation
Can you say my name?
Has the memory gone? Are you feeling numb?
Have we all become invisible?

AUTHOR

Snake