Metal Gear Solid 6 - everything we know so far
Is Metal Gear Solid 6 more than a dream?
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While there’s been no confirmation of aMetal Gear Solid 6on the horizon, it seems unlikely that Japanese entertainment giant Konami would abandon one of its most beloved properties so easily.
While Konami released theMetal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1last year and is still working away on theMetal Gear Solid 3remake, the prospect of aMetal Gear Solid 6is made more distant by the absence of franchise creator Hideo Kojima. The renowned auteur was very much the driving force behind the series but parted ways with Konami after the successful release ofMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Painin 2015. Since then, Kojima has formed his own studio, Kojima Productions, which is responsible forDeath Strandingand the upcomingDeath Stranding 2: On The Beach.
Those looking for a direct spiritual successor to theMetal Gear Solidseries may be in luck, however, as Kojima has announced that he’s working on anew action-espionage gamecalledPhysintwhich he promises will be “the culmination of my work.” WhilePhysintcertainly sounds exciting, Kojima doesn’t own the rights toMetal Gear Solid, meaning that any official follow-up would need to come with Konami’s blessing. We’ve scoured the internet to find indications of what (if anything) Konami might be up to on this front. Read on to find out more.
Metal Gear Solid 6: cut to the chase
Metal Gear Solid 6 - what we know
Metal Gearis in a strange sort of limbo right now, at least in terms of new games in the mainline series. Hideo Kojima, now working at his own studio, has long since severed ties with Konami. However, Konami still owns the rights to the series. So far, Konami has only released one Kojima-freeMetal Geartitle:Metal Gear Survive.
Currently, we are awaiting the release of theMetal Gear Solid 3remake, which was announced at a PlayStation Showcase event last year. This could be a testing bed of sorts for the series, and might potentially be used to justify a new addition to theMetal Gear Solidsaga.
We imagine ifMetal Gear Solid 6, or some new series entry, is on the way, then it will arrive onPS5,Xbox Series X,Xbox Series S, and PC at the very least.
Metal Gear Solid 6 - what we want to see
Metal Gear Solid 6may not have been confirmed by Konami, but here’s what we would want to see in a newMetal Gear Solidgame.
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Return to the sandboxGround ZeroesandThe Phantom Painsaw a marked shift in theMetal Gear Solidformat. In a similar way toThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the games took the essential elements of theMetal Gearformula and spun them anew within an open-world sandbox environment.
It was a big deal for a series known for enclosed areas to instead offer an open space over which you could gradually exert control. The change in philosophy rejuvenated the series and any sequel should continue that trend by iterating on the wealth of changesMetal Gear Solid 5introduced.
More sci-fiAs much as I enjoyedMetal Gear Solid 5, I did find the trappings of the 1980s somewhat limiting, especially compared with the over-the-top sci-fi bombast ofMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance. As much as I love the more understated and historical side ofMetal Gear, I know I’m not alone in missing the awesome giant mech fights ofMetal Gear Solid 4. Metal Gearhas always been eerily prescient when it’s looked toward the future, and I’d love to see more.
StoryMetal Gear Solid 5ended with the revelation that you hadn’t been playing as Big Boss, but as a man who had been brainwashed and surgically altered to think and look like he was Big Boss. It was a leftfield twist but also explains how Snake was able to kill Big Boss twice in the originalMetal Geargames.
In the firstMetal Gear, Snake kills the doppelganger (aka ‘Venom’ Snake) and inMetal Gear 2he kills the real Big Boss.
There are many places whereMetal Gear Solid 6could pick up the story, but a likely candidate would be right after the events ofMetal Gear Solid 5, potentially as Big Boss establishes Outer Heaven, his renegade state. This would give fans a chance to re-meet characters like Grey Fox and Dr Pettrovich, though from a new perspective. Alternatively, Konami could take a leaf out ofMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance’s book and focus on the future ofMetal Gearand the long-term consequences of its characters' actions.
Unanswered questionsWhile Konami disputes it, many people feelMetal Gear Solid 5is unfinished. The game’s final mission, Episode 51, was literally cut from the game, so there is little resolution when it comes to Eli, Big Boss’ clone. At one point he steals a mech from your base and disappears, but, thanks to the cut mission, you never end up giving chase. WhileThe Phantom Pain’s collector’s edition revealed what would have happened in the cut mission, it would be great to play that final part and to see Eli, the boy soldier, become Liquid Snake, your nemesis throughoutMetal Gear Solid 1,2, and4.
Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami doesn’t have to spell the end for Metal Gear Solid. However, if the publisher wants to continue its most famous series for itself, then it better be ready to fill some rather large boots.
Metal Gear Solid 6 news
David Hayter teases new performance as SnakeIn aTweet, Snake voice actor David Hayter teased a return to the character. While nothing has been confirmed yet, Hayter did reply to the tweet with a GIF from Metal Gear Solid 3 Delta, so who knows.
Another Metal Gear Solid Master Collection is comingSpeaking in the latest Metal Gear Production Hotline episodeposted to YouTube, producer Noriaki Okamura responded to a fan question regarding a potential follow-up to the existingMetal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1.
“We should’ve picked easier questions,” he joked. He explained that the question is a difficult one to answer as while they already had HD ports ofMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyandMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater,there are no pre-existing ports “of the titles released after those”.
Metal Gear Solid movie gets a promising updateProducer Ari Arad spoke in aninterviewwith Brian Crecente about the upcoming Metal Gear movie. On whether it’ll be the pinnacle of video game adaptations, he added, “I think everyone’s going to be really excited and surprised. I think getting Metal Gear right will obviously be amazing because I think it’s a lot more meditative than some of the other adaptations. Personally, I want it to be terrific.”
Metal Gear Solid 3Remake announcedA new Metal Gear Solid project was announcedat a PlayStation Showcase event last year. This is a remake ofMetal Gear Solid 3, and so far, we’ve seen a cinematic teaser trailer and anin-engine preview video. Hopefully, more details will follow, as for now, there’s little information about just how extensive a remake it will be at launch. That said, it’s clear that Konami is aiming for a high production-value reimagining, perhaps in the vein ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeor theResident Evil 4remake.
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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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