Konami closing Metal Gear Online this June

Konami is pulling the plug on Metal Gear Online after four years of service. Today, the studio told fans it plans to dismantle the Snake-themed multiplayer on June 12, 2012 – exactly four years from the day it first launched alongside Metal Gear Solid 4 back in 2008.

The shutdown will begin March 21 with the closure of the Metal Gear Online Shop. On April 24, Konami will then make it impossible for new players to register, while giving existing players access to a handful of freebies including Reward Shop equipment, Expansion Packs, and Preset Codec Message Appeal Packs. Finally, after a couple months of free stuff, Konami will shut the lights off for good at midnight (Japan time) on June 12.

“Thank you to everyone for your loyal support of Metal Gear Online,” wrote the studio. “All of the staff involved offer you our sincerest thanks.”

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The demise of any online community is always bittersweet, and we're sure somewhere there's a group of MGO diehards planning a virtual rally or vigil. If Konami really wants to go out with a bang, it would do well to follow Star Wars Galaxies' lead and make MGO's demise one big intergalactic event. Or an inter-whatever event. We're just saying this is the perfect excuse for a party.

Lest we forget, Snake will also be making a comeback on 3DS this week in the form of a free demo for Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater.