Metal Gear Solid Collection: A Glorious Revival

Metal Gear fans were in for a treat at the recent PlayStation Showcase, despite not having a new release in the series since 2018. Konami announced that they will be bringing the first three Metal Gear Solid games to the PS5 via the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1. This includes the original Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Although these games have been re-released before, they have not been available on PlayStation consoles for some time. However, the announcement has opened the door for the rest of the series to hit modern platforms in the future, including the much-awaited Metal Gear Solid 4, which has remained exclusive to the PS3. While it is exciting to have these titles available on PS5, rescuing Metal Gear Solid 4 from the PS3 should be a priority.

The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Paves the Way for Metal Gear Solid 4 on Modern Platforms

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which was initially released exclusively for the PS3 in 2008, features Old Snake as the protagonist, who has aged rapidly due to genetic changes during his cloning process. The game's storyline culminates in a final showdown between Old Snake and Liquid Snake, who has taken over Revolver Ocelot's body, in what is widely regarded as one of gaming guru Hideo Kojima's greatest works. Despite its popularity among fans, Metal Gear Solid 4 has been difficult to access due to its status as a PS3 exclusive.

The unique architecture of the PS3 presents a significant challenge for newer PlayStation consoles such as the PS4 and PS5, which struggle to emulate PS3 games like Metal Gear Solid 4 without making significant modifications. The PS4's hardware was not powerful enough to handle the emulation of PS3 games, while the PS5, which has the necessary specifications, would still struggle to replicate PS3 titles without major changes to the original source code. As a result, most developers have not considered porting PS3 games to modern consoles to be a worthwhile investment. However, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection may indicate that Konami is willing to take the risk.

The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection has been announced as Volume 1, which suggests that there may be additional volumes in the future. This collection, along with the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, is likely a test to determine the interest in the Metal Gear series. If these projects prove successful, Konami may consider investing in bringing more classic Metal Gear titles to modern platforms.

A potential Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 could include Metal Gear Solid 4, as well as Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 titles. This would allow players to experience the entire Metal Gear Solid saga on the PS5. Although it may be challenging to port PS3 games, Metal Gear fans have been eagerly awaiting the chance to relive Metal Gear Solid 4. The fact that this collection is labeled as Volume 1 is a positive sign that Metal Gear Solid 4 may finally be re-released.