Since the first 3D title launched on the original PlayStation, 25 years ago, Metal Gear Solid has captured the imagination of gamers. A steady stream of sequels and prequels has cemented its place in history.
The series seemed to come to an abrupt end following the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. In 2015, Konami announced its dramatic split with series creator Hideo Kojima. Although the details were hazy, it was clear that Kojima and Konami, who had been publishing his games since 1987’s Metal Gear, were going their separate ways. However, with the reveal of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake earlier this year, it seems fans finally have a reason to be optimistic.
Remakes and Re-releases
The remake of the 2004 game, first teased at May’s PlayStation Showcase, is set to release later this year on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. The game will launch under the title Metal Gear Solid ‘Delta’ — Snake Eater alongside the Master Collection Vol. 1, a series of ports of MGS 1, 2, and 3. Konami confirmed that Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa are not involved, though not whether David Hayter and cast will provide fresh performances. Developers who have worked on the series before will apparently team up with Virtuos, a studio known for its work on remasters.
Can we expect further remakes? Konami said they will “listen to player demand”, so a re-imagining of MGS 1, 2, or 4 may be on the horizon if this first remake is warmly received. At the very least, it seems we’ll get a full suite of (remastered?) ports on current consoles.
Metal Gear Solid 6?
Of course, these remakes and re-releases are a great start. It’s about time the series, with such a devoted following, got some love from Konami. The question on everyone’s lips, however, is will we get a Metal Gear Solid 6? Following the underwhelming launch of 2018’s Metal Gear Survive and news of an MGS pachinko machine launching in Japan, there were fears that the series might finally be relegated to gimmicks and merchandise.
Although it seems that Konami isn’t in a hurry to patch things up with Kojima, the series may still have a future. Some may argue that the franchise shouldn’t continue without its creator, who was its public face for decades. The storied saga has always been the work of many people, but people generally recognize it as “his” baby. It’s yet unclear whether that future will consist of sequels, prequels, or spinoff territory.
Ultimately, it seems we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, we should probably just be glad we’re getting anything. The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake launches later this year on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. No news yet on a potential Switch version.
What are your hopes for the future of Metal Gear Solid? Are you hoping for more remakes, or do you think MGS 6 is on the horizon? Let us know in the comments!
