My fellow magical practitioners are hounded by Witch Hunters in 1666 Amsterdam, the target of brutal, puritanical raids. But forget about that, I'm Noa – a witch, hunter. With a calendar year to track down my own demonic targets – the Originals – using magic powers only active during a full moon, it's up to me to cleanse the supernatural forces they introduce to the world like I'm pruning a rose bush. Pruning it by unleashing broomstick combos, that is.

But, before I can go Henry Hoover on the corrupted humans who have signed immortal pacts with these evil spirits, I have to track them down. Given only a name and a rough area in which they inhabit – conveniently the same few blocks of Amsterdam streets and canals that make up the first two main missions available in Early Access – I have no idea where the, say, Inquisitive Crane actually is. With almost every building – home, shop, university, or prison – accessible to explore, though, those few blocks can be deliciously daunting to master. This might come from Assassin's Creed's creator, but 1666 Amsterdam's density is closer to classic Hitman, shrugging off handholding and letting me loose to find clues or be jailed trying.

Witching hour

While I can tap a button to cloak myself in red robes, the witchy look will only arouse suspicion and draw guards, meaning I spend much of my time in a less conspicuous black dress and white bonnet. The most daring I get is holding down a button to have her do a slightly faster walk. Only when chased by guards do I whip out the broom to coast down the canals and lose my pursuers.

If I'm caught where I'm not supposed to be or act unusual in front of crowds, a suspicion meter will quickly rise. In search of leads towards my quarry, a note I've found suggesting they take up residence in a block of houses next to the university, I saunter into a back alley, quickly opening a window to peek inside and backing off as that meter begins to climb.

What doesn't arouse suspicion at an open window? A cat enjoying a sunny day. Noa's familiar, Aaron – a cat named Aaron who is inhabited by the spirit of a befuddled historian from 1999 for reasons I won't explain – can be directly controlled with the press of another button, able to observe surroundings, nab a single item at a time and, crucially, leap great heights and slip through small gaps. Stray and Murdered: Soul Suspect have both put me in control of cats before, but here the freedom to go feline mode to be as sneaky and nosy as I desire across a neighborhood is a snooping dream come true.

Aaron can manoeuvre around to unlock latched doors from the inside, allowing Noa deeper access to a building so long as she's not spotted long enough for it to become besieged by guards. Instead of risking it, I prowl around inside until I come across a servant unnerved by Aaron's presence. These targets, afraid of cats rather than willing to pursue my mewling (which can be a solid distraction on its own), can be attacked and scratched by Aaron, the rending of their flesh allowing his spirit to seep inside them as he curls up on their shoulder, fully possessing them to succumb to Noa's will.

In the case of this servant, that means I can wander around as a platform for Aaron to continue to unlock interior doors, before eventually I use their own key to open up the front door, approach Noa, and – arm in arm – escort her inside, protecting her from falling under suspicion from any guards patrolling the house.

Tactically, I body-hop my way into sequestered rooms to rifle through the house's bookshelves and tables for anything I can use. It instantly reminds me of the spirit-jumping in Omikron: The Nomad Soul, but with the freedom to do so at almost any time. It turns out I have the wrong house, but this diversion allows me to stock up on materials used to craft potions and even complete a recipe for one that will allow me to move undisturbed through restricted areas for vital seconds – handy when I can't find a body to possess and escort me through some zones.

Deeper in, I even uncover a hidden coffer planted by my witch coven to assist me with an upgrade, rewarding me with a much appreciated health increase. Using a roguelike-style pick-three system, there's both flexibility and randomness to how Noa's build progresses (and, if you don't lock them in, can be re-rolled on death).

One allows me to hide in bushes, another to suck guards into confined space and trap them. Another, I think, will allow me to take to the sky to enter houses from on high, at least given the tantalizingly human-sized windows on some buildings, but I'm yet to see it. Before I learn more magic words as Clio – the present day scholar interpreting text left by her ancestors Noa and Aaron (yes this narrative is delightfully odd and layered) – the exact skills these coffers offer (say that a few times fast) aren't always clear until you try them out.

Nomad soul

But, I don't need a lot of witchy upgrades to be happy. It's possession that has me hooked, and all the possibilities it brings. From using a cat to break in and pilot bodies out, to finding, say, a scholar on the streets who can then bring me into the university's laboratories, or even a scoundrel character with lockpicks who I can command to break into buildings on my behalf. Even some guards can be ordered to use their big truncheon to knock out their co-workers.

Reading notices on billboards or listening to gossip at inns will only get you so far – the details you need to acquire to reveal your target and the demon within them will always require you to access restricted areas, and Noa is fragile enough where going in spells blazing isn't an option. I love it when a game gives me the tools to be sneaky in unusual ways. Until Agent 47 learns magic so he can go Omikron mode himself, 1666 Amsterdam is the best I'll get.

Having put about ten hours into 1666 Amsterdam, exploring its first map across two main missions which encompass three targets (with some more linear 1999-set missions between), I've only explored a fraction of the streets surrounding Noa's safe haven. A chunk of that revolved around possessing a baker from the shop on the corner just to get Noa unchecked access to their horde of ingredients in their storeroom.

Sure, 1666 Amsterdam is rough around the edges for its early access launch, and light on tutorializing a bunch of the skills Noa can use to infiltrate forbidden areas. And I definitely chafe against the use of AI in the game's production, which has been walked back to a degree (as much as you can walk something like that back).

But, it's all a testament to how delightfully weird and creative 1666 Amsterdam feels as I possess my way through this dense world in the hopes of finding my own leads. It's like one of those random PC games someone would recommend to you on a forum years ago and you'd become engrossed for hours despite never hearing anyone else talk about it or really understanding how it works. That's a special kind of magic.

We might not have 1666 recommendations for what to play next, but we do have a best stealth games ranking as well as games like Assassin's Creed guide that should help out!

Backrooms director Kane Parsons has been praised by Hideo Kojima at the film's Japanese premiere, with the acclaimed game director saying he's "envious" of the 21-year-old.

Backrooms has been one of the major hits that has made 2026 the biggest summer ever at the box office, which is even more impressive when you realize it was directed by a then-20-year-old, with Parsons becoming the youngest director to ever have a film debut at number one at the box office. Parsons had his beginning in online media with his The Backrooms short on YouTube amassing 93 million views after making animated Attack on Titan fan films, only to go on and direct the major film based on his short films years later.

Speaking at the Japanese premiere of Backrooms (attended by and reported on by Postmode), Kojima noted, "He’s 21, and I’m 63. But when people who grew up digital take that digital sensibility and burn it onto analogue film — I think what you’ll see is just how remarkable a result that can be."

Kojima – who was young when he directed his first game – was asked how he related to Parsons' rise; he responded, "I made Metal Gear at 23 – but A24 didn’t get in touch with me until I was about 59. So it’s completely different, isn’t it?"

Kojima adds, "I’m envious, honestly. There was no A24 when I was about 25. I wish they’d called." Kojima is currently working with A24 to adapt the Death Stranding universe to film, with Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One Michael Sarnoski set to direct the film, however it's still not confirmed when the film will be released.

As Hideo Kojima turns 63, the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator says "I would like to remain focused on creating games" despite the interest in movies

Hideo Kojima has explained why the Japanese box art for the original Metal Gear Solid was written vertically, but says some retailers didn't get the memo.

Metal Gear Solid is a series synonymous with banger box art, with most entries in the series featuring some gorgeous artwork from series artist Yoji Shinkawa – in Japan and Europe that is, the US typically got 3D renders (with worse box art for the US being a tradition Konami is continuing to this very day). However, Europe won out with the original Metal Gear Solid, getting Shinkawa art, as both the US and Japan got a blank white cover with the game's title on it. However, there were differences: the US copy had the title in red, while the Japanese copy had the title on its side.

When asked why the title was intentionally misplaced on the Japanese cover, Kojima explains, in a post on Twitter, "When you placed [it] on a shelf, I intentionally designed the package to make customers wonder, 'Why is it vertical?!' and pick it up to see what it is, leading them to the game information from there!"

However, Kojima adds that this didn't exactly work out as planned, as "some stores, perhaps trying to be helpful, turned the package sideways and displayed it horizontally instead of the way I intended."

Doing something weird with the cover to pique players' curiosity isn't unique to Metal Gear Solid, mind you; the most obvious example is the space shooter Phalanx on the SNES. The European and Japanese covers featured a shot of a spaceship flying away from various explosions, while the US cover consists of an old fella playing the banjo with a tiny spaceship flying past in the background. And it's definitely the only reason I remember that game off the top of my head.

91.8% of Metal Gear Solid 4 players immediately got the achievement for ripping a statue's privates clean off.

Metal Gear Solid 4's new re-release in Master Collection Vol.2 appears to reference a fan-made Metal Gear Online project in its files, suggesting Konami relied on the project for DLC.

Back in the days of the Xbox 360 and PS3, it felt like every game had a multiplayer mode, even if it didn't need it. Nonetheless, this trend resulted in some shockingly great multiplayer experiences like Naughty Dog's Uncharted and The Last of Us online modes, Capcom's forgotten Bionic Commando reboot, and Bioshock 2.

Then, though Metal Gear Online debuted with Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence on the PS2, it took the Metal Gear Online 2 featured in Metal Gear Solid 4 to make the series' multiplayer a legendary experience. That brings us to the SaveMGO project, which allows players to play Metal Gear multiplayer to this very day.

Officially, Metal Gear Online went offline in 2012. However, SaveMGO has played a vital role in Metal Gear Solid 4's enduring appeal.

Now, it seems like Konami is acknowledging fan efforts. The SaveMGO Twitter account (via Time Extension) recently shared SaveMGO member Marko's reaction to a post in the Discord community for the project, in which someone shares references to SaveMGO in Metal Gear Solid 4's new port files.

The working theory among fans is that Konami used SaveMGO to access some of the now-deleted DLC for the game which consisted of camouflage patterns for Snake. Marko says, "That is awesome! So the only way they could get that stuff is thanks to the preservation potential of SaveMGO." SaveMGO says in its own tweet, "The original DLC might only exist today because SaveMGO kept it available all these years," adding that the team is "feeling proud."

While it wouldn't be the end of the world if DLC camo were missing from Metal Gear Solid 4, Konami's possible reliance on SaveMGO proves the importance of preservation, and more specifically, fan-made preservation projects. Because it's fantastic that I can still use cool Metal Gear Solid 4 camo, but it's even better that I can still play Metal Gear Online almost a decade-and-a-half since the servers shut.

91.8% of Metal Gear Solid 4 players immediately got the achievement for ripping a statue's privates clean off.

Metal Gear Solid 4 players on PC have earned one specific achievement right away, and all I can say is that poor statue.

Metal Gear Solid is an incredibly silly game series. The series features some of the greatest stories in gaming, with the best Metal Gear games still hitting like nothing else, even after multiple replays.

But yeah, those games can get dumb as hell.

There's a recurring character whose characterization revolves around his chronic IBS, which turns out to be a family trait, as his ancestor found in Metal Gear Solid 3 also can't stop dropping ass on a near-constant basis.

But aside from Mr. Poop, the games themselves are filled with silly little moments and interactions throughout the world. For example, you can slip on the bird droppings at the start of Metal Gear Solid 2, or the fourth-wall-breaking dialogue about the PS3 (which has been changed). One of these comes at the start of Metal Gear Solid 4, where you can pose next to statues to blend in, but if you go to the well one too many times, Snake accidentally rips off the statue's genitals.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2 features an achievement for doing so, called "Handle with Caution," which rewards you if you "broke off the most important part of a statue". And yesterday, once the game launched on Steam, BlueSky user Columbologist took a peek at the achievements list and discovered something. Frankly, they put it better than I ever could, with their post reading: "91.8% of players, having waited nearly 20 years for MGS4 to be playable on anything other than PS3, booted the game and immediately made a beeline for a statue's dick."

While the number is at a much lower 21.4% at the time of writing, the fact remains that mere hours after Metal Gear Solid 4 launched on PC, 91.8% of players had already pulled the statues' genitals straight off. Just as Hideo Kojima intended.

The Nintendo ports of Metal Gear Solid 4 replace the iconic PS3 and PSP in-game consoles with generic variants

With the release of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2, it's been confirmed that Nintendo editions of Metal Gear Solid 4 have removed PlayStation references from the game.

Metal Gear Solid 4 was famously a PS3 exclusive until this week, and the game itself made that clear. Throughout the game you could see a PS3 console on Snake and Otacon's plane, Sunny could be seen playing the PSP, and Snake used a Dualshock 3 controller to control the Metal Gear Mk. 2. On top of that, there's the famous scene where Otacon recounts how great the PS3 and Blu-Ray discs are.

We already knew that line had been changed to whatever platform you're playing on, but fans noticed Konami's online manual seemingly removed the console from the Switch versions, before Konami changed the image to show the PS3 again. But now the collection is out, fans have revealed that yes, Nintendo players won't see a PlayStation console.

On the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions of Metal Gear Solid 4, you'll still see the PlayStation controller and consoles, but for Switch 1 and 2 the DualShock and PSP have been changed to generic versions, while the PS3 console has a Kerotan frog from Metal Gear Solid 3 in its place.

There hasn't been an official statement about the change, but given that both the PC and Xbox versions have the PlayStation kit, many are assuming this was a call from Nintendo itself. Although, weirdly, the PlayStation seen in Metal Gear Solid is still present in the Switch version of the first collection, albeit in a very low-poly form. Still, if it's the price to pay to get Metal Gear Solid 4 on more platforms, I suppose it's not the biggest deal.

Speedrunner turns one of Metal Gear Solid 4's biggest bosses into a total pushover using the power of Master Collection Vol 2's enhanced framerate

Having some Metal Gear Solid 4 tips to hand will stand you in good stead, whether you're returning to the battlefield or checking out Guns of the Patriots for the first time. After being a PS3 exclusive for over 18 years, the 2026 port that's also included in the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 has opened the game up to a brand new audience, so you may be looking for some pointers for how to get started in Kojima's epic stealth adventure. With that in mind, here are seven essential MGS4 tips to help you guide Old Snake to his destiny.

If you're looking for more assistance, then we also have a Metal Gear Solid 4 boss guide to help with those tough encounters, and a Metal Gear Solid 4 walkthrough to lead you through each act.

1. Remember to use OctoCamo and Disguises

In automatic mode, Snake’s OctoCamo suit will adapt to mimic the color and texture of his immediate environment. Team it with the OctoCamo mask (won by defeating Laughing Octopus) and Snake’s camouflage rating can get close to the magic 100%, making him virtually invisible. To change OctoCamo, Snake must be either lying down, or pressed up against the wall or structure you want him to blend into.

The OctoCamo suit can also be set to predefined patterns, or to patterns you have saved to its memory. In practice, though, you’re much more likely to leave OctoCamo set to ‘automatic’. In addition to OctoCamo, some of MGS4’s acts give you access to a specific disguise, such as the militia disguise in the Middle East section of the game. Rather than literally hiding Snake, these enable social stealth, freeing him to move around with impunity in certain areas of the game.

2. Pay attention to the Drebin Store and War Economy

Weapons launderer Drebin gives you valuable assistance, and an interesting dilemma in the game. With nanomachine technology giving guns ‘fingerprint’ access only, Drebin must launder new weapons that you find for a small fee if you want to use them. Doing this also means that Drebin will automatically buy any identical weapons that you subsequently pick up, for Drebin Points that you can then use to buy ammo or specialist, new weapons. However, the amount of money you earn for each weapon depends on the War Economy.

It works like this: if you’re employing stealth all the time, there are fewer shootouts and fewer shootouts means demand for Drebin’s stock is low, meaning you get less money. However, if you take the shooty approach, demand goes up and you get more DPs to spend on bigger and better guns. So what’s it going to be? Stealth, all-out war, or a little of both? Oh, one more thing – watch out for Drebin’s occasional sales. It’s not unusual for him to take 20% off rifles, say, for one day only. And be warned, before the final act Drebin has a half-price sale on everything, so it pays to keep those special purchases back until then.

3. Watch your Stress, Psyche, and Life levels

In MGS4, Snake’s Stress, Life, and Psyche gauges are all linked. The Life gauge is self-explanatory, and can be topped up by Regain energy drinks, rations, and noodles. It will also slowly replenish itself if Snake lies low or seeks cover – a valuable bit of knowledge if you find yourself low on rations during a set-piece battle.

Taking a day’s break from playing MGS4 will also have an effect, giving you a 20% hike in life force. Psyche is represented by the four-part gauge below the Life gauge and represents Snake’s mental wellbeing. If he’s too hot, too cold, overloaded with kit, or feeling his age – because of an aching back from crouching for too long, say – this will affect his Psyche gauge, making it harder for Snake to aim accurately and generally affecting his performance.

Removing the problem will help the gauge to replenish itself, as will smoking (although this whittles away at Snake’s Life gauge) and looking at ‘gentleman’s literature’ (which doesn’t appear to make him go blind, Mum). Linked to Psyche is Snake’s Stress level. Presented as a percentage, Stress increases with sustained combat, unpleasant surroundings, and by carrying too much equipment.

When Stress exceeds 50% Psyche starts dropping, so it’s important to try and help Snake chill out when this happens. Combine a high level of Stress (80%) with the need to fire a weapon for a sustained period and Snake enters a ‘combat high’. While this lasts his Psyche does not decrease and the damage he sustains from enemy fire is reduced. However, when the ‘combat high’ ends, Snake’s body will crash leaving him very vulnerable for a while, so make the most of it while it lasts.

4. Use your Solid Eye to full effect

Snake’s Solid Eye enhanced vision system combines binoculars (Binos), night vision (NV), and normal settings, and is a lifesaver on more than one occasion (see the boss battle against Crying Wolf). When equipped it shows tags that reveal basic info on enemies, neutrals, and friendlies, color-coded red, gold, and blue respectively. This can be particularly useful during the Middle East’s frenetic shootouts, and it also highlights special items that you might otherwise miss. Night vision mode can be used to reveal people’s footprints, enabling you to track enemies and allies.

5. Keep an eye on your Threat Ring

The Threat Ring is a clever device that replaces the earlier games’ Soliton Radar, depicting threats in Snake’s vicinity. This translucent ring encircles Snake while he lies down, crouches still, or moves forward in a stealthy hunch. The circumference of the ring fluctuates depending on the relative location and size of a nearby threat. It’s a brilliant piece of design that’s worth its weight in gold. Be warned, though, that when Snake is stressed the reliability of the Threat Ring drops, so keep your wits about you.

6. Send Metal Gear Mk.II to scout and sneak attack

This remotely controlled robot drone is new to MGS4 and an essential item if you’re planning on using stealth over brute force to ace the game. With its stealth camo enabled – press X to turn on – the Mk.II is invisible to all but infrared sensors, but since Snake can be attacked while he’s controlling the Mk.II it’s important for you to find rock-solid cover before you send the drone out. While the Mk.II has a limited range and will drain its battery very quickly, it can be used to scout new areas, stun guards with its electric tentacle – hold L1 then press R1, disable traps, toggle light switches, and act as a decoy to draw guards away.

7. Stealth is key

MGS4 has the most refined stealth gameplay of any Metal Gear game, so initially you may fall foul of its subtlety. Sound is of massive importance, so if you can hear Snake’s footfalls (however faintly) then, potentially, so can the enemy. Even your equipment can give you away – the Solid Eye’s night vision mode makes a telltale hum, for example – so stay vigilant and use your ears. Equally, listening out for environmental clues given by enemies pays dividends wherever you are.

Entering a new area? Use the Mk.II to get the lie of the land and to identify potential threats. Find a good vantage point, get a good OctoCamo rating and just watch the world before you. This way, you reduce the risk of steaming into the path of enemies and having to ‘go loud’. Keep your tranq pistol equipped, as not only will it enable you to take down enemies silently (and non-lethally), but it also enables you to use Close Quarters Combat (CQC) moves on enemies to subdue them without raising the alarm.

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The various Metal Gear Solid 4 boss fights can be particularly challenging, with each pitting you against a unique enemy that you need to defeat before you can progress further through the act. Also, with this being a Hideo Kojima game you often need to think outside the box, as you won't get far going into each battle with an all-guns-blazing approach. To help you out, we've got loadout advice and pointers to help you beat every boss in Metal Gear Solid 4.

If you're looking for further assistance, we also have some Metal Gear Solid 4 tips to get you on the right track, plus a complete Metal Gear Solid 4 walkthrough to steer you through every act.

Act Two Boss: Laughing Octopus

Equip – Solid Eye (Night Vision), MK 2 Tranquilizer pistol, M4 Custom
Special item prize – OctoCamo facemask

The claustrophobic South American showdown against tentacled mistress of disguise Laughing Octopus is Snake’s first encounter with MGS4’s unsettling Beauty and the Beast unit, and a master class in the series’ classic brains and brawn approach to set-piece duels. Playing out in an enclosed, prefab research station comprising of interconnected rooms, Octopus’ initial tactic is to use her full-body camouflage to hide out and taunt you before revealing herself suddenly to panic you into fatal errors.

Blending into oil paintings, wooden slatted walls, ceiling rafters, and stock room shelves, she’s visible with the naked eye if you’re sharp – but a better tactic is to use the Solid Eye’s night vision mode that lights Octopus up like a Christmas tree. Wear down her health and she starts to get more brazen, barreling after you, firing homing darts your way, and crashing through windows to send you flying. Remember to pick up rations and ammo whenever the coast is clear, and clamber up onto furniture if she starts rolling after you.

Ever the tricksy one, she alternates camouflage with a series of disguises. Are you sure that’s Dr Naomi Hunter unconscious on the floor? Where did that Haven Trooper’s body come from? Why does that medical scanner have a new, extra thick cable running up to the ceiling? And how come the Metal Gear Mk. 2 is here? If it seems wrong, it’s probably Octopus. Stay sharp, stay calm, stay alive, and eventually Laughing Octopus will be gone, replaced by the tragic beauty beneath the grotesque hardware. And she wants a hug – what could be the harm in that, right? Not so fast. Let Laughing Beauty (as she’s now known) embrace you and she’ll suck the life right out of you.

So while it feels wrong, you’re going to have to take her down a second time, but you’ve got two choices here. Kill her outright if you like, but if you quick equip Snake’s Mk.2 tranq gun and wear down Laughing Beauty’s stamina instead, you’ll leave her alive and on the road to mental and physical recovery. And for this display of mercy you’ll receive a special item from her – in this case it’s Laughing Octopus’ OctoCamo facemask, which will come in very handy later on.

Act Three Boss: Raging Raven

Equip – MK.2 Tranquilizer pistol, M4 Custom, P90, RPG-7, Javelin
Special item prize – MGL-140 Rapidfire grenade launcher, Raging Beauty facemask

While the boss battle against Laughing Octopus was all about tension-soaked cat and mouse tactics, Raging Raven’s big fight is full-on shock and awe. Taking place in and around a substantial stone tower in MGS4’s mist-draped interpretation of Prague, you must tackle not only the missile firing winged harridan herself, but also squadrons of automated attack drones circling the skies with her.

With Raven pounding chunks of masonry out of the tower, you have to navigate between an enclosed ground floor and two balconies circling the structure, picking off the drones until Raven is enraged enough to draw near and give you a good shot with your heaviest weapons. This process can be a bit of a slog, so be sure to keep moving (to avoid becoming a sitting duck for your opponent's crippling mini-missiles) and buy in a heap of ammo for your best SMG, rifle, and grenade launcher/missile launcher.

It’s not a bad idea to equip auto aim while tackling the drones. This way you can stick with rifles and keep your heavy weapons for Raging Raven herself. As soon as she gets close, swap to either the Javelin or RPG-7 and try to get off at least two shots before she retreats. The Javelin will home in on Raging Raven so is good over distance, but if she’s getting close, the RPG-7 has a quicker reload so it’s your best bet there.

Wear her down and – as with all the members of the Beauty and the Beast unit – eventually you get the opportunity to offer the beautiful woman beneath the armored exoskeleton release or redemption. Use your Mk.2 tranq gun to send her into a dreamless sleep and you'll earn her kickass MGL-140 grenade launcher as your reward.

Act Four Boss: Crying Wolf

Equip – MK. 2 Tranquilizer pistol, M4 Custom, MGL-140 grenade launcher, SVD Sniper rifle
Special item prize – Rail Gun, Crying Beauty facemask

This brilliant sniping level cleverly updates the classic confrontation against Metal Gear Solid’s best boss, Sniper Wolf. You must navigate the exterior of the base while a stinging snowstorm reduces visibility almost to nil. Complicating your attempt to locate and take down the feline mech form of Sniper Wolf are squads of elite Haven Troopers.

Taking them down is hard enough, and with Crying Wolf capable of tracking you when you’re downwind of her, finding a safe vantage point from which to scope the area using your night vision is the real challenge here. First thing to do is make a sweep of the area and acquaint yourself with it, taking down any Haven Troopers you see as you go. The reason for this is that, as Crying Wolf tracks you, you’ll briefly be able to see through her eyes. Learn the location’s landmarks and when this happens you’ll be able to figure out where she is in relation to you and aim at her before she opens fire or stamps your face into the snow.

If you’re running low on rations and Regain, the best tactic is to equip a sniper rifle and full OctoCamo (face and body), scale one of the two towers and lie low, scanning the area for signs of Crying Wolf. She often prowls around the distant tree line, so keep looking there. Even if you can’t actually see her with your eyes, the Solid Eye night vision will reveal her nanomachine marker tag if your crosshairs pass over her. Spot her as she temporarily emerges from her armored exoskeleton to draw a bead on you and you can score maximum damage.

However, if you’re feeling bullish and have a lot of rations, you can forgo the stealth, equip Raging Raven’s MGL-140 grenade launcher and go hunting for Crying Wolf instead. Keep thinning out the Haven Troopers and it won’t be long before she comes at you. If you’re quick you can knock her off her feet and get a good three to five shots in before she recovers. Then it’s just a case of retreating, reloading, and repeating, but be warned – if the battery in your Solid Eye runs down, you’ll be forced to fight blind. Show Crying Wolf mercy and you’ll earn yourself her awesome Rail Gun.

Act Four Boss: Vamp

Equip – MK. 2 Tranquilizer pistol (for CQC), M4 Custom, P90, Mp5-SD2, Rail Gun, Syringe
Special item prize – N/A

Having shot Vamp in the forehead twice (once in MGS2 and once in MGS4’s South American level) before this final showdown in the shadow of MGS’ shattered Metal Gear REX in Alaska, it’s hard to imagine how you’re going to be able to kill the seemingly immortal boss. And sure enough, shooting him silly with conventional weapons will take him down, but only temporarily. This fight requires lateral thinking.

As revealed by Dr Naomi Hunter, Vamp’s incredible healing ability is down to the nanomachines in his blood. And since Snake is carrying syringes full of a cocktail that will suppress nanomachine activity, all you have to do is temporarily incapacitate Vamp using regular weapons. Since Vamp pings and bounds all over the shop before charging at you, it’s not a bad idea to toggle auto-aim on for this first bit. That way you can unload clip after clip into him wherever he leaps. When he finally goes down, get behind him. After that, the moment he gets up you can grab him in a CQC chokehold and use the nanomachine syringe to make Vamp mortal again. Piece of cake, right? Yeah, well, you’re not done yet.

You may have softened Vamp up, but he’s not dead yet. With a seemingly endless squad of special Gekko Metal Gear mechs programmed to self-destruct entering the chamber, Raiden shows up to tackle Vamp while you deal with the mechs, and Otacon tries to hot-wire the Metal Gear REX for your use. In this part of the battle you have to use the Rail Gun to thin out the Gekkos just long enough for Otacon to start up the REX.

There are two tactics that will save your bacon here. Firstly, retreat to a position underneath the REX. You’ll be protected from most shots, and you can get a clear shot at the Gekkos no matter which direction they come from. Secondly, aim for the very top part of the Gekkos’ ‘heads’ as it’s a surefire method to take ‘em out. Perfect your aim and you can become a one-shot master.

Act Four Boss: Metal Gear RAY

Equip – N/A
Special item prize – N/A

It’s taken many years but finally you get to pilot your very own Metal Gear REX in this brilliant mech-based boss battle against Snake’s nemesis, Liquid. Set in the dockside area on Shadow Moses island (after a cool tutorial level that sees you fighting off scores of Gekkos on the route out of the hangar), you have to use all of REX’s weaponry – cluster guided missiles, Gatling gun, chemical laser, and a mean, mech sweeping kick – to defeat Liquid’s technologically superior Metal Gear RAY.

In a brilliant departure from the usual floaty, style-over-substance mechs that appear in games, Snake’s REX feels massively solid and weighty. Use that heft to your advantage, and after softening Liquid’s RAY up dash in close (by double tapping X) and use the REX’s chunky leg sweep to do your opponent some serious damage. Score enough damage and you’ll get a special action prompt. Hit it and you’ll perform a devastating special move that will knock a good chunk off RAY’s health bar. It’s then important to retreat – use the buildings as cover to get some safe distance – before repeating the tactic.

At distance, try charging the chemical laser to full power and using that, as a direct hit will score massive damage. Missiles are good if you can aim long enough to get multiple lock-ons, while the Gatling gun is best for taking advantage of sudden clear shots when they arise. Whatever you do, don’t let RAY get too close, or you’ll risk a crippling stomping. If it charges, double tap X plus a direction to side-step or retreat. This fight has been a long time coming, but it is definitely worth the wait.

Act Five Boss: Screaming Mantis

Equip – Syringe, M4 Custom, AK102, MK.17, P90
Special item prize – Sorrow Doll, Psycho Mantis Doll, Screaming Beauty facemask

The final member of the Beauty and the Beast unit is also its leader, keeping them and anyone she chooses to in check using her terrifying psychic powers. Just like her Metal Gear Solid namesake, Psycho Mantis, Screaming Mantis is a master of manipulation, and as such, defeating her using conventional means is impossible without first shaking yourself free of her mind control.

Initially her tactics involve manipulating ally Meryl’s body like a marionette, along with the corpses of the Haven Troopers lying around the Ark’s control room. However, soon she ups the ante, using her puppeteer skills to prevent you from aiming at her body and even resorts to sneaky misdirection – at various points the screen goes black, with only green TV channel text top right reading ‘Hideo 2’ revealing that your console hasn’t, in fact, crashed. Mantis also flashes up the Kojima Productions logo, but look closely and you’ll see it actually reads ‘Kojima Protection’ instead. Don’t hit reset! You’re being messed with!

So how do you take her down? It’s easier than it, at first, appears. First things first – to free yourself from her control, use the nanomachine syringe on yourself. This effectively cuts Screaming Mantis’ strings, freeing you to aim at her. You may have to repeat this tactic, so keep the syringe equipped. But wait, before you tackle Screaming Mantis herself you need to deal with Meryl, as while under Screaming Mantis’ control she’s a liability to both you and also herself. To prevent her from killing you or putting her gun to her own head, equip the Mk.2 tranq gun and wear down her stamina to knock her unconscious.

This enables you to turn your attention to Screaming Mantis herself. Rather than trying to shoot her, aim at the strings attached to either one of her puppets – The Sorrow or Psycho Mantis – and, in time, it will be cut loose and fall to the ground. Now sprint over, pick it up, equip it and you can use it against Psycho Mantis. Score a direct hit with its ethereal ‘rounds’ and suddenly you have physical control over the master manipulator. Now all you have to do is shake her to defeat with a violent flourish of the controller. Brilliant. Completists should try and get both dolls, but if you’re running low on health then concentrate on the Psycho Mantis doll. It’s more effective – you’ll see why as soon as you’ve taken down Screaming Mantis’ ‘Beauty’ form.

Act Five Boss: Liquid Ocelot

Equip – N/A
Special item prize – N/A

After all the shooting, raging techno war, cyborg mechs, and nanomachines, this is what it all comes down to – a one-on-one fistfight between Snake and Liquid on the deck of the Patriot’s Ark. And while two ageing men slugging it out like tramps in a park would be an anti-climax, series creator Hideo Kojima uses this brutal punch-up as a summation of decades of Metal Gear, incorporating music, health bars, gestures, and even, fleetingly, character models from earlier games as the weary pair stubbornly leather each other until nothing is left on display but pure force of will and a lot of liver spots.

It’s an incredible fight to the finish. Stamina is what counts here, so keep circling Liquid until you’re happy you can get the punches in. When you do, keep at it. Eventually you’ll get a special move prompt and it’s this that will really whittle down Liquid’s health. One last piece of advice – keep away from the edge of the arena. You don’t want slip and go out like a sucker with total victory just within your grasp, do you?

Final Boss: The End Credits

Equip – Comfy socks, chair
Special item prize – Having all the answers

This is it: the final gauntlet. Sorry to say there aren’t really any tactics we can give you on how best to make it through MGS4’s marathon movie ending. True, you could skip the ending of an epic story that’s taken decades to tell, but you wouldn’t be about to do that now, would you? So our advice is simple – get comfy, sit back, and enjoy every last second of it. Oh, and do wait for the credits to end, as there’s a moving final message that’s well worth the wait.

Want to read more? Then here's why MGS4's final scene is more powerful than we ever realized.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

A Metal Gear Speedrunner has discovered that the higher framerate in Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2 has made one of the series ' most iconic boss fights a cakewalk.

Sure, it's almost 20 years old, but Metal Gear Solid 4 spoilers ahead for anyone about to experience it for the first time through the Master Collection.

Metal Gear Solid 4 may be a bit messy, but there's one thing it nails: nostalgia and fan service – before nostalgia bait became all the rage. Returning to Shadow Moses Island in Act 4 is one of the greatest gaming moments of all time, and it culminates with a power fantasy a decade in the making as you get to pilot Metal Gear Rex and have a scrap with the improved model Metal Gear Ray. It's a phenomenal boss fight and would be the best moment in the game if not for the final boss.

Jaguar King, a Metal Gear series speedrunner, posted a clip of their gameplay on Twitter, saying, "Thanks to 60FPS, Ray can be mega destroyed way faster than the original…" The attached clip shows the iconic Rex vs Ray scrap, with Rex launching missiles at Ray, then using its laser to destroy Ray's health bar almost instantly, with the fight lasting a mere 11 seconds in total.

Games having things tied to framerates isn't new. The original Metal Gear Solid is still 30 fps in Master Collection Vol. 1 for this very reason. Destiny 2 players also discovered differences in damage when the game was released on PC and had the 60fps option available. But what's weird about this is that Metal Gear Solid 4 was always technically 60fps; yes, the PS3 version never actually ran that well most of the time, but the game was built with a 60fps cap in mind, so it's strange that it would have an effect here.

Metal Gear Solid 4's most famous joke gets updated in Master Collection Vol. 2, with Konami even bringing back the original voice actor

Here you'll find our ranking of the best Metal Gear games in the almost 40-year history of the iconic stealth action series.

Despite being MIA for over a decade, Metal Gear Solid still remains one of the most beloved video game series' and one that many – namely, me – consider to be the greatest saga of games ever made. The series put Hideo Kojima on the map, and each of the mainline entries received rave reviews. And to answer the question here, play them in release order.

With Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater releasing recently, and the release of the new game, Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2 now here, it's time to reflect on the series' past. And for someone who has played each of these games multiple times, it's been a herculean task to rank some of my personal favorite outings. Still, after much deliberation, I've found the top dogs in Kojima's saga. Here's my ranking of the 10 best Metal Gear games of all time.

The best Metal Gear games, starting with...

10. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

The PSP's first Metal Gear Solid game has largely been overlooked thanks to its status as a canon entry in the franchise being up in the air (from what I gather, the gist of it is that it did happen in series canon, but anything that contradicts what happens in the Kojima-led games didn't happen).

While it sows the seeds of recruiting soldiers, building an army, and mission-based stages that would later be expanded on in Peace Walker, Portable Ops plays more like Metal Gear Solid 3 in a way that doesn't really translate in the most clean way. But behind the somewhat awkward gameplay is a full-blown Metal Gear Solid game worth checking out, as it still ranks among the best PSP games, and forgetting that, it's worth it purely to spend some more time with Big Boss

9. Metal Gear Acid 2

The Metal Gear Acid duology should not work. The most iconic stealth action game being turned into a deckbuilder tactics title doesn't sound like the most natural crossover, and while there were some definite growing pains with the first game, Metal Gear Acid 2 is among the best that the tactics genre have to offer.

The premise is simple: you play as Snake (no relation), use decks of cards based on past Metal Gear and Hideo Kojima games in order to sneak or fight through missions, and take down an arms manufacturer and maybe scrap with a Metal Gear along the way. Integrating stealth into a tactics game works way better than I'd ever expect, and the card pricing mechanic adds an extra layer of risk vs reward to proceedings that make for tense encounters. It's a game that I'd love to see make a comeback now that tactical games as a whole are back in fashion.

8. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Our first canon entry on the list, Metal Gear's MSX2 duology, is often overlooked compared to the later games, with many opting to skip the original titles. Understandably so, given that the games were not officially available until 2006, when they were translated for Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. While the original Metal Gear is somewhat tough to go back to, Metal Gear 2 should not be missed.

Eight years before Metal Gear Solid and still within the NES era, Metal Gear 2 feels ahead of its time. Not only is Kojima's directorial style in full swing this early on, but a number of iconic moments from Metal Gear Solid – codec number on the back of the box, the radar, a secret admirer over codec – were actually done first in Metal Gear 2.

7. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4 has gained a somewhat elusive legendary status thanks to its PS3 exclusivity, and many are about to experience it for the first time thanks to Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2. It marks the latest point in the series timeline – taking place in the far-flung future of 2014 – and marks the end of Solid Snake's story.

While the gameplay is fantastic, the story is full of brilliant moments and has some of the best nostalgia work ever put in a game. However, I will say that Metal Gear Solid 4 is also a bit messy. Gameplay innovations are abandoned by the end of Act 2, Act 3 is a really weak tailing mission, there are some rubbish retcons (here's looking at you, Para-Medic), and finally, we also have a few of the most convoluted plot points told through the lengthiest cutscenes in series history. It's still a classic that's well worth experiencing, but it's a flawed one.

6. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is easily the best spin-off the series has to offer. Starring the cyborg ninja version of Raiden, we only got to see him be the coolest guy in cutscenes during Metal Gear Solid 4; Metal Gear Rising ditches the stealth gameplay to be one of the greatest hack-and-slash action games ever made.

If there was a textbook definition of over-the-top, Metal Gear Rising is it. You start the game with Raiden launching a Metal Gear Ray – which was a massive threat the last time we played as him – over his head like it's nothing while the iconic heavy metal soundtrack kicks in with impeccable timing. It only gets wilder from there, with the entire finale with Senator Armstrong standing toe-to-toe with the best moments from the main series.

5. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Aside from the classic MSX2 games, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is the most overlooked entry in the mainline series. While the lack of a number and its original release as a PSP game may feel like spin-off material, Peace Walker is Metal Gear Solid 5 in all but name (not to mention it originally was Metal Gear Solid 5 in name). Mixing Metal Gear with Monster Hunter, this portable entry follows on from Metal Gear Solid 3 and shows how Big Boss eventually became the villain seen in the original games.

Peace Walker is the best story in the series behind the original Solid trilogy, thanks in part to its phenomenal supporting cast of characters. While the moreish mission-based gameplay and base management were perfect for a handheld, these aspects would eventually be built on for the actual Metal Gear Solid 5 down the line, and the series was all the better for it.

4. Metal Gear Solid 5

I've never looked forward to a game more than Metal Gear Solid 5. While it's unfinished and has the worst story in the series, Metal Gear Solid 5 is incredible. Not only would it bridge the gap between the Big Boss and Solid Snake eras of the saga, but it was Hideo Kojima's final Metal Gear. The prologue game, Ground Zeroes, introduced one of the greatest areas in the series' history with Camp Omega, and despite its short runtime is a fantastic taste of the full game.

Meanwhile, The Phantom Pain is, simply put, one of the best open world games ever made. The outing retains the mission-based structure of Peace Walker but places it in an open-world, and unlike some of the genre's biggest titles, freedom is the name of the game in Metal Gear Solid 5. You can approach any mission in a number of different ways, and it's the type of game where you can have the dumbest idea possible only for it to actually work. It could've easily been the best Metal Gear game had it lived up to the expectations of its story, but it's still an unmissable part of the franchise.

3. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Controversial at launch thanks to one of the biggest twists in gaming history, Metal Gear Solid 2 has been reappraised for what it truly is, a postmodern classic. Kojima's subversive storyline is ahead of its time, with the game predicting a number of parts of modern-day society and internet culture, so much so that "Metal Gear Solid 2 predicted this" is a meme in itself.

The jump in technical prowess between the PS1 original and the PS2 debut is also stunning. The graphical bump, effects, physics, enemy AI, and scale of the game feels like a true generational leap that we simply don't see anymore. It was the killer app for those of us who remember the launch of the PS2, and one that still holds up 25 years later.

2. Metal Gear Solid

What can even be said about Metal Gear Solid at this point? The PS1 hit was revolutionary thanks to its storytelling, redefining the stealth genre, and an iconic cast of characters and bosses that have yet to be beaten by Kojima's later games. But even outside of the industry-shaking changes, it's a brilliant stealth action game that still holds up as one of the best to ever do it.

Metal Gear Solid laid the foundation for what would become the greatest series of video games ever made, Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and 4 all pay massive homage to the game. Meanwhile, the rise of cinematic-focused AAA games from the likes of Naughty Dog owes a debt to Metal Gear Solid for laying the foundations. Every time I've replayed the game in the years since my first encounter with it, I am left in awe at just how brilliant it is, especially compared to a majority of its PS1 contemporaries.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the greatest game ever made. I felt that way moments after rolling credits on it for the first time, and I still feel that way years later. Instead of following up on Metal Gear Solid 2 and Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3 is a prequel showing a young version of series antagonist Big Boss, with the player taking on the role of Naked Snake. Snake Eater takes the "you're on your own" feeling of infiltrating the Shadow Moses military base in Metal Gear Solid to the next level, as Naked Snake must sneak through the Russian jungle, securing his own weapons, gear, and food to survive. This was an evolution of the stealth mechanics that later games would build upon.

Snake Eater also marks Kojima's peak as a storyteller. Naked Snake is inherently more human than his supersoldier clone spawn, making for the most personal story in the series as Snake has to come to grips with hunting down his mentor in the name of his country to prevent nuclear armageddon – all while goofy James Bond-esque nonsense is going on. This culminates in the emotional final act that still gets me teary-eyed countless replays later, with the final boss fight being the greatest moment in the series' history.

For more recommendations, check out the best stealth games of all time. Or look ahead with our round up of all the upcoming Hideo Kojima games on the way.

Dishonored boss and Arkane founder Raphaël Colantonio, now creative director at Weird West maker Wolfeye Studios, previously worked with Valve on a Half-Life 2 Ravenholm game before its abrupt cancellation. In a new interview, Colantonio reflects on his time with Valve and shares more about how that unfortunate project put him on a course for immersive sim history.

Speaking with Press Box PR, Colantonio describes the disappointment around Valve's decision to end Ravenholm's development. "It took us a decade to move on from the pain of the Ravenholm project because we were incredibly excited about doing that game and we put in a lot of creative energy into it and eventually when the decision was made to cut it, we did not understand it as it happened," he says.

With hindsight and experience, he suggests, it makes a lot more sense. "It all came down to the economics behind Half Life 2 and how the DLCs were selling," he continues. "They had a business ratio between how much they could spend and how they could make it to be worth it to them because it takes the attention of the entire structure on their side."

Valve had taken a stab at a Ravenholm game before contacting Colantonio and the crew, with internal and external teams failing to produce something that could be greenlit. "Like the two other attempts that they had looked at, we went somewhere with it, and it was cool. What we had was really, really cool," Colantonio says. "But it still needed more time, and too much time to finish. Beyond it being cool there was a business call at some point where it was decided that it didn’t really make sense. It was very painful for us but it made sense, we grew up and got a little bit more mature about it."

Colantonio adds that this project ultimately "led us to work very closely with Viktor Antonov," Half-Life 2's art director and the visual design director of Dishonored. Antonov passed away in 2025. The "final game" from Antonov's works, Guns of Eschaton, was recently revealed by his studio Eschatology Entertainment.

Working with Valve was a learning experience, Colantonio says. "We did not betray the Valve mentality" while working on Dishonored, he suggests. "It’s just that we probably snuck in some of our own Arkane stuff in there as well," whether that's the gadget design or map design and mobility.

Some of that "Valve mentality" is present in play testing. The "Valve way of doing it" is to rotate testers, Colantonio reasons. A group of testers would come in and play a game, and individuals as well group size would be varied between sessions. "Five then 10 then five then 10 and no matter what you realise that somehow this is enough to discover things," Colantonio recalls.

For old times' sake, Colantonio sizes up a potential Half-Life 3. "I think they are the grand masters," he says of Valve. "We've learned from them. We admired them. We still admire them. The bar is so high but I have no doubt that they will rise to meet it because I want to play a fantastic Half Life 3. I just trust that they have the time to do it right."

Arkane founder asks Xbox CEO "how much" Microsoft wants for the studio: "I'm asking for a friend."

Konami says that reboots of key franchises like Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Suikoden are an important part of its business strategy going forward.

Between a very public falling out between Hideo Kojima and Konami around the release of Metal Gear Solid 5, a pivot into Pachinko machines, and a general lack of new games, the company lost a lot of stock among fans for a while. However, in recent years, thanks to well-received re-releases of Castlevania and Metal Gear games, remakes of Silent Hill 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3, as well as a number of new titles like Silent Hill f, the publisher is back among fans' good graces.

And while Silent Hill f proved Konami isn't just relying on remakes of already-beloved games, Metal Gear in particular is so intrinsically linked with the name Hideo Kojima for many that some don't think we'll ever see a new original title in the series. But speaking to Nikkei Gaming, Konami president Hideki Hayakawa seems to suggest there is a future for the series and plenty more.

"Reboots of existing IPs such as Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Suikoden are important initiatives that serve as pillars of our business." Hayakawa says, adding, "At the same time, we have a strong desire as Konami to create entirely new genres and works."

The term "reboot" specifically evokes the idea that there will be a fresh start for Metal Gear Solid, as Silent Hill f was also detached from the main series' established beats enough to feel like its own thing.

Of course, Hayakawa could consider Metal Gear Solid Delta a reboot, and we could just end up seeing more remakes in the series, but at the very least, it appears there is a future for Metal Gear; it's just a matter of seeing exactly what that is.

As Hideo Kojima turns 63, the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator says "I would like to remain focused on creating games" despite the interest in movies

Hideo Kojima has turned 63, and he's celebrating the milestone the best way he knows how… with a very long Twitter post.

Kojima celebrated his 60th birthday three years ago by pledging that he has no plans to retire, and with the list of upcoming Hideo Kojima games comprising OD and Physint as well as a line of projects like the Death Stranding anime and A24 film adaptations he's been keeping his word as of late. But Kojima's 60s have also been the peak of him dropping somewhat morbid details in interviews.

PS5 exclusive Physint, for example, is being made after he had the realization that people want something like Metal Gear while he was sick during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the time since he's spoken about having "a USB stick with all my ideas" as a kind of "will" and his desire to die in a movie theater when the time comes. Basically, dude has been getting weird with it.

And in celebration of his 63rd birthday, Kojima once again got a bit morbid on the timeline, with a Twitter post reading, "As I get older, the things I 'have to do' and the things I 'want to do' continue to increase. At the same time, the time I 'have to do them' continues to decrease." He adds, "I constantly need to reassess how I use my time and how I live my life. That said, once you've taken something on, you can't simply put it down and walk away."

Kojima also notes that 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of his career in games, with 1986 being the year he joined Konami, as well as the year the first title he ever worked on, Penguin Adventure, was released. Not only that, but the end of 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of the revived Kojima Productions as an independent studio.

The Death Stranding director also reaffirms his dedication to making games, by saying, "While I continue to receive various opportunities and offers, I would like to remain focused on creating games." So while it's been an expectation among fans that Kojima is eager one day to move on to direct a film, it may not be as likely as some expect.

Hideo Kojima isn't planning to blast off to space yet because he doesn't want to rush to his "ultimate dream," so he'll "keep on making games" for now.

Some classic jokes from Metal Gear Solid 4 are not only present in the latest re-release, but have been updated for modern systems. The game's part of Master Collection Vol. 2, which also includes Peace Walker and the Game Boy Color title Ghost Babel, and Konami has included a few nice flourishes.

The amount of meta-humor always made porting Metal Gear Solid 4 a difficult prospect. You've got references to the iPod and fourth wall breaks that really place the release at a certain time. Well, for the purposes of this version, Konami actually went back and amended a couple of spoken lines to make sure one joke lands accordingly.

In Sons of the Patriots, when you get to Shadow Moses Island, the original version made reference to changing the discs of the first Metal Gear Solid when you reach this same location. "Hold it, Snake. Time to change the disc," Otacon starts. "I know, I know, it's a pain. But you need to swap Disc 1 for Disc 2. You see the disc labelled '2'?"

Snake would then point out there isn't a second disc, and Otacon would realize we're in the future. "Oh, wait! We're on PlayStation 3," he exclaims, much to the chagrin of our man Solid.

Now, as has been highlighted by reviewers (thanks, TechRadar Gaming), whether you're playing on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, or any other platform, the Master Collection Vol. 2 now references that system. Voice actor Christopher Randolph even came back to do the line for each instance.

Sure, you can apparently hear the contrast in his voice, since he's aged almost two decades and the recording environment would've been completely different. But, the joke still works, and now has an added layer to it. Even Solid Snake would see the fun in that.

Metal Gear Solid is getting co-op after 28 years thanks to "world first" mod, turning "the original PlayStation classic into a true online multiplayer experience."

A modder has released a trailer for a Metal Gear Solid mod which brings two-player co-op to the PS1 stealth classic.

A recent trend I've loved in the modding scene is players going back to classic games and implementing multiplayer into titles that were never designed for it. They are so prevalent there's an entire website dedicated to them. Super Mario 64 is one of the most famous examples – very recently, its sequel Super Mario Sunshine also had a mod released – as are the mods that allow full-blown co-op in FromSoftware games as opposed to certain sections. But one game I never expected this phenomenon to reach was Metal Gear Solid.

On their YouTube channel, a modder going by Felipe has released a "Pre-Alpha" trailer of their Metal Gear Solid Co-op mod. The description calls it "a world first" and says, "This is the first attempt to bring the original PlayStation classic into a true online multiplayer experience, something the original game was never designed to support." The video shows two versions of Solid Snake sneaking about Shadow Moses Island, fighting Genome Soldiers and the likes of Revolver Ocelot.

In the comments of the video, Felipe adds a FAQ section to delve deeper into the mod. They reveal that this is built on the GOG PC release, and that each player will be able to have their own camera within the mod. They also acknowledge later sections of the game that feature different gameplay styles, like the final Jeep sequence and rappel off the building, saying that the former will likely be single-player only but that the rest of the game should be possible.

Felipe also notes that the mod will have settings to balance the game to two players by increasing boss HP, and is thinking of increasing guard reinforcement numbers. The modder says that they will look into additional mod support for their multiplayer version of the game, and the likes of additional skins, which we've seen in similar multiplayer mods.

The mod is still in the early stages, but it's an impressive showing so far.

Nintendo Switch version of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection 2 seemingly removes the PS3 from Snake's plane, suggesting an iconic joke will have to be changed.

Update: Konami has seemingly updated the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 version of the online manual since this was discovered, with the screenshot now showing the PS3 seen in the other platforms' screenshots.

We have reached out to Konami for clarification and will update should be recieve a response.

Original Story: Metal Gear Solid fans have noticed a detail in the screenshots of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 that may explain how the PS3 mentions are handled in the new port of Guns of the Patriots.

Metal Gear Solid 4 has become something of a cryptid among the Metal Gear fanbase; it's the only game in the franchise to remain an exclusive, and it was long thought to be unportable because it was built specifically for the PS3.

This adherence to the PS3 allowed Hideo Kojima and co to do some fourth-wall breaks, including a famous scene where Otacon calls back to Metal Gear Solid 1's disc swapping by saying "Oh wait! We're on PlayStation 3! It's a Blu-ray Disc. Dual-layered, too – no need to swap."

But now that the game is coming to platforms outside of the PS3, many are wondering what Konami will do with the line in Master Collection Volume 2.

As spotted by users on Reddit, the manual pages for Master Collection Volume 2 include a screenshot of the Metal Gear Solid 4 pause menu, which shows a live cam of what Sunny is up to on your plane, the Nomad.

In the original version, you can see a PS3 on the table in some scenes, and this remains the case for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox consoles. However, the Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game have removed the PS3 console, replacing it with what appear to be GA-KO dolls.

While this doesn't confirm anything about the iconic line, it does prove Konami is willing to change things up for the Master Collection ports, which in turn has led to speculation about what the line could be.

While it could easily just be the regular PS3 line, Nintendo versions removing the console has me thinking it will also be changed, and given Christopher Randolph returned for Metal Gear Solid Delta to record lines for the Xbox exclusive Snake Vs Bomberman mode, he and David Hayter are clearly still happy to work with Konami.

One user reckons we'll get a generic "We're on a modern game console - Digital download too, no need to swap," but maybe Konami could go the extra mile and change the line to be about whatever platform you're playing on. Or there's the worst-case scenario where the line is removed entirely for Nintendo fans. We'll find out soon enough, as it's only nine days til Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally free from the PS3.

Metal Gear Solid 4's Master Collection gets an impressive new showing, confirming 60fps, shorter load times, and that Solid Snake still loves his iPod

Hideo Kojima still wants to go to space, but for now he's going to keep making games, and he says that's a good thing.

Metal Gear Solid creator Kojima really hasn't kept it quiet that one day he wants to go to space, so much so that Valve boss Gabe Newell tried to set Kojima up with a tour of SpaceX. Over on Twitter, Kojima recently posted a video of his comments during a panel at Il Cinema in Piazza – a film festival in Rome – where he explains (translated by Genki_JPN) his current thoughts about his space travel aspirations.

"I want to share this with all of you: We all want to make our dreams come true, right?" he begins. And obviously he isn't talking about his dreams with "voluptuous nude women," reanimated "decomposing bodies," and a very impolite coach, as he explains, "I want to go to space and I want to make a movie." However, he adds, "it wouldn't be good if those dreams just came true."

"That's because dreams are goals," Kojima explains, "The idea is to achieve the second, third, and fourth dreams along the way before reaching your ultimate dream." He adds that "for the time being, I think I'll keep on making games without going to space."

I would say perhaps he can go to space once he retires from creating games (although he said he has no plans to retire). However, at that same event, he also said he wants to die in a movie theater, preferably just after the trailers, so unless they build theaters in space, he's probably going to have to come back to Earth at some point.

The original Metal Gear Solid is free to play on Steam this weekend as Konami gears up for Master Collection Volume 2.

Ahead of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 releasing next month, Konami is letting everyone play Metal Gear Solid for free this weekend.

2026 has been a landmark year for those of us who are still obsessed with the year 1998. Spyro is getting a new entry, Resident Evil Requiem felt like as much of a sequel to Resident Evil 2 as anything else, Pokemon Gen 1 returned, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is set to get a remake releasing later this year. So, not to be outdone, Konami decided to remind everyone what the real best game of 1998 was, and is letting everyone play Metal Gear Solid.

Over on Steam, the Master Collection Volume 1 edition of 1998's Metal Gear Solid is free to play for anyone right now, which grants you access to the PS1 classic, as well as its expansion pack Metal Gear Solid VR / Special Missions, and the Japanese exclusive Integral. On top of that there's a full screenplay and "Master Book" which features artwork, character bios, a series timeline and the like.

This free weekend also arrives alongside Metal Gear Solid Master Collection's deepest Steam discount to date at £24.99 | $29.99 (which it's only been at twice before in the previous two Steam Summer Sales).

The best part of this deal, however, is that Metal Gear Solid is not really all that long. You could absolutely beat the entire game as part of this free weekend and experience one of the all-time greats free of charge

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2 brings 4K 60fps to MGS4 and Peace Walker, Konami announces, but Switch 1 still gets saddled with 30fps.

Konami has revealed the performance targets for Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2, and 4K 60fps Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally within reach, even if Switch 1 users are getting shortchanged again.

Konami released details about both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker's performance on its website. It's mostly as you would expect based on the previous game: Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC will be running at 4K 60fps; Switch 2 and Xbox Series S will be 1440/60 – with 1080/60fps in MGS4's handheld mode and for both on Peace Walker for Switch 2.

Once again, the original Nintendo Switch is stuck with 1080/30fps in docked and 720/30fps in handheld. That includes Peace Walker – a 2010 PSP game that ran at 60fps when its HD edition was released on 2005's Xbox 360.

Metal Gear Solid 4 at 60fps was already revealed a few months back with the first gameplay of the re-release. On Switch 2, the game has selectable image modes between "Adjusted and Original," with the handheld mode only getting Original. Presumably, one of these matches the other platforms, with a slightly more inconsistent framerate.

Funnily enough, Metal Gear Solid 4 was always capable of 60fps, but getting it to run as such on PS3 was only possible in really specific circumstances, and most of the time you'd be dealing with sub-30fps in action scenes. But having the game run at a stable 60fps will be a game-changer.

Peace Walker, on the other hand, has a number of different resolution and upscaling options. Konami also released a video showing off the "High Resolution" mode for the game's hand-drawn cutscenes, with the new version having a much clearer image compared to the somewhat blurry original.

While Metal Gear Solid 4's big return is the clear star of the show here, I'm hoping to see Peace Walker's stock rise with this re-release, so people can finally see it for being one of the best Metal Gear Solid games… perhaps even better than MGS4 some may say.

After almost 25 years, Metal Gear Solid 2 players are still finding secrets: "This is the kind of stuff somebody posts on an online forum in 2005 and no one believes it"

A modder has made Grey Fox playable in the original Metal Gear Solid, and it's way more impressive than it sounds.

Despite Snake (and Snake, and Snake, and Snake, and…) being a contender for the greatest video game character of all time, Metal Gear has a variety of side characters that all absolutely rule, and many hope for the chance to play as them. And while there's been the odd opportunity to play as whoever isn't the main protagonist of a given game (Tanker and Snake Tales in MGS2, Ocelot in Metal Gear Online), Metal Gear is pretty strict about having you play as the main character.

One such legendary side character is Grey Fox, who – after appearances in the MSX2 originals – appeared in Metal Gear Solid 1 as the series' first Cyborg Ninja. The character was so popular that he was the selling point and cover star of Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, where he was briefly playable for a couple of missions. And while Hideo Kojima wanted the character to get his own game as a sequel to Metal Gear Rising, it never materialized.

However, Grey Fox is finally getting his day in the cold alaska moon, as YouTube user Perfect Pizza has released a first look at the final version of their "Playable Grey Fox mod" for Metal Gear Solid. On first read this may not sound that impressive, perhaps the thought of "oh they just moved the VR Missions character into the main game," crossed your mind? Well this mod is not nearly that simple.

Watching the trailer, right away you'll notice you have access to Grey Fox's arm cannon, which saw use throughout Metal Gear Solid, but never actually got used in his previous playable appearance. The High Frequency Blade has gotten a buff too with a new trailing effect and the ability to ricochet bullets back at enemies, and there's new movement options with crouch walking introduced. The mod promises a ton of changes, like "automatic open and close face visor upon alert,""custom animations," and "custom codec calls".

On the mods Discord, Perfect Pizza explains "This mod uses the PSX decompilation project’s ability to modify the game’s C code and build a new executable using the developer version of Metal Gear Solid." Adding "At the time of creation, neither the AI Grey Fox boss nor the playable VR Ninja have been fully decompiled. As a result, everything shown so far has been recreated through reverse engineering, existing game code, experimentation, and educated guesses."

They explain, "The goal is to let players experience an expanded version of Grey Fox vs what was given to us in VR missions with as many of his signature abilities and some new ones as the game’s limitations allow, while preserving core gameplay features such as crawling, elevators, weapons, and environmental interaction." and that "This project also lays the groundwork for a future version that could allow players to experience the entire game as Grey Fox."

Perfect Pizza also says "This is not a complete story-mode conversion" but that "A separate project, which I am not affiliated with, is working toward making the full campaign playable by rebuilding all the stage overlays and making the compiled exe shiftable. The future of a complete Grey Fox playthrough depends heavily on that effort."

Regardless it's an impressive mod that actually allows playable Grey Fox found in VR Missions to live up to the version we hoped he would be all along, and even if a full version doesn't show up, it'll be fun to play about with.

After almost 25 years, Metal Gear Solid 2 players are still finding secrets: "This is the kind of stuff somebody posts on an online forum in 2005 and no one believes it"

David Hayter, the striking voice behind the Metal Gear series' various Snake roles, isn't a fan of Sony's decision to end physical disc production for new games on PlayStation consoles in 2028 – and he's certainly not afraid to show it.

The end of physical media as we know it is dominating online discussions following Sony's announcement, which cited how "general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs" – a statement that plenty of folks definitely cannot get behind.

One of them is none other than David Hayter, the iconic voice actor known for his work on Metal Gear Solid games as Solid Snake, Old Snake, Naked Snake… you name it.

In a new online post, Hayter makes this as clear as he possibly can, sharing a picture of all his consoles and games (physical, of course, mind you). Between the Xbox and PlayStation 5 – and various controllers – I see a plethora of gems, including everything from GTA 5 to Red Dead Redemption 2.

As for his caption? "No disc, no buy." And, yes, he tags the official PlayStation account on Twitter, too, so as to catch Sony's attention.

Unsurprisingly, fans are largely in agreement with the actor, who admits in the comments that "this is a fraction of my game collection" as well. Not to mention, "I also have 2500+ DVDs." Physical media, you say? Hayter's no hater in that department.

He's not alone, either, as big developers in the industry themselves have spoken out against the move toward digital-only. Take former Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra, for example.

He says "we can't live in a world of fear if our games will work in the future or not," and game preservation experts share in that sentiment, explaining how this will all lead to more piracy.

Just yesterday, CEO of Lords of the Fallen 2 publisher CI Games, Marek Tyminski, also stated that Sony's choice to axe discs and the fact that GTA 6 is going disc-free itself "feels unfair to studios still backing physical" – so, yeah.

There's no telling what the future will bring for physical media enthusiasts, but I'm choosing to remain hopeful that game discs won't do a DVD on us and all but disappear. Something tells me Hayter is, too.

Here's why we think PlayStation killing discs is bad for everyone, whether you care about physical games or not.

If you're looking for some Meccha Chameleon tips to get better at hiding or seeking, then you've come to the right place. There are now millions of players trying out this viral hit and it can be hard at first to figure out what's going on, while learning the best ways to avoid detection or track down your opponents. Having played quite a few rounds myself, I'm here to help with tips for Meccha Chameleon, whether you're hiding or a hunter.

Wondering if you can play Meccha Chameleon on Mac, consoles, or mobile? We've got the latest information about releases on other formats.

1. Practice in a private server first

They say that practice makes perfect, and it's hard to git gud when you're running around in a panic before the hunters are released. So, if you jump into a private server with just you in it, you can take all the time you need to fully explore each stage to look for the best hiding spots and work on your painting skills.

To set this up, hit the Create Server option from the main menu and then configure the Meccha Chameleon max players count to 1 so you won't be disturbed. Create your server, select the desired map from the lobby, then feel free to wander round and experiment at your own pace.

2. Hiding in plain sight will get you more points

One of the big appeals with Meccha Chameleon is being able to disguise yourself well enough to hide in plain sight, and as you earn points for the time you spend in any hunters' sightline that's also the best scoring strategy. Look for objects you can naturally blend in with and are easy to mimic – I've had huge success in the past curling up next to balloons and matching their color, with whole squads of hunters walking past without spotting me!

Of course, as your skills improve you can start trying to make your hiding in plain sight more audacious, by painting yourself to blend in with increasingly complex surfaces and patterns. You can even try attaching yourself to objects and expanding them – if you look like you're part of the existing structure then you're much less likely to stand out to a hunter.

3. Use the 3D Eyedropper to match your surroundings effectively

If you want to paint yourself to match your surroundings, then you need to get the color(s) you're using as close as possible to the originals so you can blend in. The general Eyedropper tool in the menu will help with this, but the best approach is to use the 3D Eyedropper.

Hold down Space to activate the 3D Eyedropper tool, then hover the mouse over a surface to display a cross that will follow the contours, before using Left click to select the currently targeted color. Make sure you also hold the Right mouse button and move left or right to change the size of your brush – go big for the initial coloring, then shrink it down for detail work, and check the angles to confirm you've painted every part of you that's visible.

4. Hiding out of sight is also a solid option

While it's perhaps not a tactic that's in the 'spirit' of Meccha Chameleon, you can also choose to hide out of sight rather than blending in. While this approach probably won't score you as many points, the trade off is that you're more likely to survive the round if you find a good spot.

If you find a good place to tuck away, you should still give yourself a basic paint coat to match your surroundings so you don't stand out if a hunter starts investigating around you. However, watch out for a warning that "Your body is buried too much!" if you clip too far into the scenery, as if you don't adjust your position to rectify this you'll start flashing red for all hunters to easily find you.

5. Stay where you are unless you're sure your cover is blown

Sometimes while hiding in Meccha Chameleon you just have to hold your nerve when the hunters are near, and have faith that your disguise will keep you safe. I've had times when a hunter was literally crawling on top of me, but I persevered and eventually they moved elsewhere on their search.

Running around the level will make you instantly recognizable as a moving target, so only change position if you absolutely have to and try to stay out of sight if you do. If you end up being chased by a hunter, remember that they have to pause between shots, so keep moving and erratically change direction as you try to break their sightline.

6. Download new maps to keep things interesting

There are a handful of original maps supplied with Meccha Chameleon and new ones are being added, but the solo dev is never going to be able to keep up with the voracious appetites of millions of players. However, there are already a huge number of user created maps in the Steam Workshop, all of which can be downloaded for free.

If the lobby you are in selects a custom map you don't already have, you can easily follow the prompt to add it from the Workshop and jump straight in. My personal favorites so far are The Village, Art Gallery, and Where's Wally?/Waldo?

7. If you're hunting, don't overlook the obvious

As a hunter, you'll be tempted to comb areas of the map in minute detail to see if you can spot something slightly out of place that will give away a hider. However, this means you may overlook something completely obvious when an opponent is hiding in plain sight. When you start hunting, do a quick overall sweep around to see if anything stands out as unusual – especially if you're familiar with the map – before going on to examine areas in more detail.

8. Paint yourself as a hunter

This is more for fun than anything else, but don't forget that it's not just the hiders who can paint themselves. As a hunter you can still bring up all the same tools and give yourself a makeover, whether you want to make yourself look menacing or plain ridiculous! Just don't spend too long on your new look, as you'll be eating in to your hunting time...

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Metal Gear and Death Stranding mastermind Hideo Kojima is "really sad" about Sony's decision to stop producing physical copies of new PlayStation games in 2028, calling the idea of not being able to access the media we want in the future "frightening."

I'm not sure I can think of a single person who's happy about PlayStation's move to soon kill off its new physical games – it's devastating news for collectors, worrying for game preservationists, and raises concerns about all sorts of things from ownership to the second-hand game market, sharing with friends, and more. Kojima is understandably also upset, as he reveals in comments at the Il Cinema in Piazza film festival (translated by @Genki_JPN on Twitter).

"Since production is ending in 2028, this is about video games, but I grew up with physical media, so I find it really sad," he begins. "Currently, I've been buying up a lot of Blu-rays, such as various movies, and CDs too.

"The situation is different for games, as they are downloaded to the hard drive, that means the game data remains on your own hardware. However, if things shift to streaming in the future, that won't be the case anymore."

He looks to streaming services like Netflix as he notes that "there is a server somewhere, and you essentially just have the right to turn the tap, and when you do, the data flows out." However, he continues, because you don't download the data of those movies and shows, but rather gain access to them via your subscription, "the consequence of that is that you don't actually possess the data yourself."

And there lies a bigger problem – while the "companies that own these servers" will "let you 'turn the tap' for a monthly fee," things might not stay the same forever. "With nations, politics and various ways of thinking, one naturally has to consider the possibility that if there is a change, the data inside will stop being distributed," Kojima says. "And if that happens you won't be able to watch or play the movies and games you like. That is what is frightening."

As a huge fan of movies, Kojima clearly has concerns that this same issue approaching PlayStation could end up impacting the film industry, too. "So, what is happening to video games in 2028, might also happen to movies," he adds. "I'd like everyone to keep that in mind."

Kojima is far from the only developer worried about the death of physical media – last week's news saw many devs and publishers speak out against Sony's decision, with Larian Studios publishing director Michael Douse calling the situation "heartbreaking." Sony apparently already has another use for its disc factory in the form of microlenses, and has reportedly recently invested €30 million into the technology for manufacturing them. Needless to say, it doesn't seem likely that the company could backtrack on the idea, despite the mass backlash.

PlayStation's disc-less future could "heavily influence" Xbox and Nintendo's approach to physical games, former Sony boss says, calling the decision "dramatic."

Wanting to play Meccha Chameleon on Mac, consoles, or mobile is understandable if you don't have access to a PC, and have been watching the viral sensation take off over recent weeks. The frantic hide-and-seek action leads to hilarious moments, and there are already millions of players painting themselves while trying to blend into the background and avoid detection. If you want to get involved, then here's what you need to know about Meccha Chameleon on PS5, Xbox, Switch, and other formats.

If you have PC access, our Meccha Chameleon tips will give you some pointers and we explain what is the Meccha Chameleon max players count.

Is Meccha Chameleon available on formats other than PC?

No, at the time of writing Meccha Chameleon is only available on PC, so you currently cannot play it on any other formats including Mac, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or mobile. Be wary if you see it available on any other format, as fake versions have already started appearing on various storefronts which are scams and will take your money without giving you the appropriate gameplay experience.

Will Meccha Chameleon release on other formats in the future?

While it's not out of the question, there have been no plans announced so far to bring Meccha Chameleon to any other formats. The game itself was created by just two indie developers, so there isn't a big studio behind it who could get to work on porting it to different devices, and they may not even have the technical resources required to develop it for other formats. The painting element of the game relies heavily on mouse control, so it may also be difficult to accurately transfer that to consoles or mobile.

One potential positive is that the multiplayer connectivity for Meccha Chameleon is built on Epic Games' Epic Online Services, which offers online services "on any combination of stores and platforms" and should mean that if the game does get ported to other formats then the online component is taken care of, perhaps even offering cross-platform connectivity between versions.

If any firm plans for other releases are announced by the developers, then I'll update this guide accordingly.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Metal Gear Solid 2 is now approaching 25 years old, and players are still discovering things about the classic game.

Metal Gear Solid 2 is one of the PS2 titles that truly felt 'next-gen' when it came out, or so I'm told since I was five at the time and only cared about Crash Bandicoot. But all of the little details that make that game's world so special are well known now – things like how the ice cubes would melt slowly if you shot the bucket at the bar, or Snake getting a cold if he stays out in the cold too long.

And yet, multiple playthroughs later (including one about a month ago), and I never knew about one hidden detail, and it looks like almost no one else did, either. "After more than 2 decades of playing MGS2, I thought I'd seen everything, then this happened", a user on Reddit writes, sharing an extremely specific interaction that can happen towards the end of the Tanker chapter.

When Snake is making his way to the room where Metal Gear Ray is housed, there are multiple open areas you can hide in off to the side, but as has now been discovered, peeking round the corner at the approaching enemy will cause a metal pipe to fall, alerting them.

The comments are just as shocked as me to find this out, with the top response saying: "Holy shit, what? Same here. This game is legendary, man." A response adds: "I think the insane level of detail on these games, particularly MGS2 and MGS3 is often overlooked. I was absolutely blown away by MGS2 when I was a teenager playing it for the first time, and even now I think the graphics and overall environment design are unbelievable." Meanwhile, another puts it perfectly, "This is the kind of stuff somebody posts on an online forum in 2005 and no one believes it to be real."

And sure, a pipe falling over isn't exactly mind-blowing stuff, but it's just one of the myriad details that makes Metal Gear Solid as a series so beloved.

Metal Gear Solid Snake actor David Hayter didn't understand all of Hideo Kojima's story while recording, but says he didn't need to: "That's what makes Metal Gear, Metal Gear."

If you know the Meccha Chameleon max players count then you can plan a session of painting hide-and-seek that involves your entire group of friends, as long as there's not too many of them. The game has been taking the internet by storm with over a million copies sold already, which means there are currently lots of players looking to get involved. To find out how many of them can be accommodated on each server, here's the lowdown on the max players for Meccha Chameleon.

Improve your skills with some Meccha Chameleon tips, or if you're wondering can you play Meccha Chameleon on Mac, consoles, or mobile then we've got the lowdown on other formats.

What is the maximum number of players for Meccha Chameleon?

Currently the Meccha Chameleon max players count is 24, as this is the highest number the host can set it to when creating a server, however this does come with some caveats. The developers recommend selecting 2-10 players for an optimal experience, and while they say that anything up to 13 players should run stably, if you choose to set the max player count between 14 and 24 then there's no guarantee it will work – the experience everyone gets at those higher player counts will depend largely on the host's CPU and connection speed.

I therefore recommend you stay within the developers' suggestion of 2-10 player, initially at least, then if you want to experiment with a higher max player count then increase it gradually until you either reach your target or the game stops functioning correctly. It's worth noting that however many players you have in a server, only one will be the initial hunter who will then infect others to join them as they're caught, until the time runs out or all chameleons are turned into hunters.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Metal Gear and Death Stranding mastermind Hideo Kojima has stated that he's "not interested" in AI-generated art, despite his recent appearance in an AI-generated short film created by Pusher and Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn (who also did the motion capture for Heartman in Death Stranding and its sequel).

Late last month, many Kojima fans weren't exactly pleased to see the game director – or rather, an AI-generated version of him – show up in an AI-generated video promoting Satellites 2, a new Prada Mode art exhibition that's been open to the public in New York over the last few days. The video sent Kojima's AI lookalike on a journey through space alongside AI Refn, before landing on Earth and seemingly checking into the Hotel Chelsea, where the exhibition was being held.

Now, though, at the exhibition itself, Kojima has expressed disinterest in the technology. Speaking to The Washington Post, he explains that he thinks real people need to be present when art is created.

"Art is life," he begins. "But in 50 years, 100 years, I don't know. Maybe AI could create art, but while I live, I don't think I'll see it. I'm not interested in it."

Kojima continues: "We'll find a good way, a good path to how we use technology, and it's really up to young people on how we use it."

The Metal Gear creator has shared his take on AI numerous times over the last year or so – he previously said that instead of using AI to come up with ideas, he would personally "lead the creative part and use AI to boost efficiency" and "handle the tedious tasks." He also once spoke about the "trend" of AI "coming into game creation" and likened it to an evolution like games becoming 3D and using online connectivity.

I can't help but wonder if Kojima's now clearly stated disinterest in AI art could partially come in response to the negativity that followed his appearance in the Satellites 2 video. To be clear, he didn't personally create it, but his association with it didn't go down very well, to put it lightly. Even so, he doesn't acknowledge this backlash at all when speaking to The Washington Post, so it remains somewhat unclear exactly where he stands on that specific video.

Hideo Kojima learns that Higgs is the world's favorite Death Stranding 2 character, but he's just glad all his children have fans.

Thief: The Dark Project is getting a remaster this year from the retro revival specialists at Nightdive Studios, over 27 years since its initial release

Announced today during the PC Gaming Show, Thief: The Dark Project Remastered is set to launch at some point this winter across PC, PS4 and PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and Switch 2.

The new trailer has showcased our first look at gameplay, and as you'd hope, the visuals look distinctly smoother and far less blocky than they did in 1998, but still while preserving the retro charm of the original. Obviously, it remains to be seen what changes – if any – might have been made to the gameplay experience, but you'd hope that this could become a new entry point for fans who missed out on the original.

After all, if you're not into VR games, Thief has been out of action for over 12 years now. Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow broke the series' silence last year, and reached 77% Mostly Positive reviews on Steam, but alas, VR just isn't for everyone. Before that, the last new Thief game (simply called Thief) came out in 2014, so it's been a long wait.

Obviously, while a remaster might not scratch the itch for a whole new Thief game like veteran fans might have been hoping for, it's just good news to see the series get some attention again. Regardless of whether you were into Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, having two new games within around a year of each other is a great sign for the franchise – let's hope we can expect to see more from it in the future.

Be sure to keep up with our roundup of new games coming this year and beyond.

The Hitman Classic Trilogy is getting a full remaster from IO Interactive and Saber Interactive. It's a very interactive situation out here.

Hitman Classic Trilogy Remastered abruptly appeared on Steam tonight following a Summer Game Fest presentation from IO Interactive, attended by GamesRadar+. Hitman: Codename 47, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, and Hitman: Contracts are back and – arguably – looking better than ever. A release date is not listed on Steam, but the collection is apparently "coming soon," and by soon Saber and Io mean in 2027. It's also coming to PS5 and Xbox.

The trailer blurb reads: "The legendary trilogy that forged the HITMAN legacy, painstakingly rebuilt from the ground up. Whether returning to the field or taking on your first assignment, HITMAN Classic Trilogy Remastered will provide the ultimate entry into Agent 47’s early career"

The side-by-side screenshots included in the Steam page are pretty impressive at first blush. Remasters for this era of games can be quite hit-and-miss, but this looks like a hit so far. Objects, textures, and lighting effects are noticeably improved, and so far I haven't seen any personality, art direction, or essential details sanded off and sacrificed at the altar of HD. Here's the announcement trailer:

If you do want to play with the old look, you'll enjoy the "instant graphics toggle" included in the collection. "Switch seamlessly between the original presentation and the enhanced visuals. Play the games as you remember them or rediscover them in a modern light," the devs say.

Broadly, the remastered trilogy promises "upgraded character models, enhanced environments, and high-resolution textures." There's also a new photo mode, although taking pictures of yourself actively assassinating folks doesn't seem like a wise thing to do.

A speaker for Saber said, "For us, remastering isn't just about taking visuals. It's about finding the original vision while embracing the possibilities of today's technology. Every project is a bridge between generations of gamers, and our goal is to make these worlds accessible, exciting, and unforgettable once again."

007 First Light dev IO Interactive won't publish future James Bond games despite its success, as Amazon gaming boss reminds everyone who owns the IP now.

Some people worry they peaked in high school – but Ubisoft veteran Clint Hocking thinks he reached a summit with the adored 2005 stealth game Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and he's OK with that. He never wants to make another Splinter Cell game again.

Hocking tells FRVR in a new interview, "I'm just happy to have made a really, really amazing game that's probably the best – I don't think it's my best game –" that title belongs to Far Cry 2, he says, "but I definitely feel like it’s the best Splinter Cell that I could make. And I don't think I could ever do better."

The developer spent a total of nearly 15 years at Ubisoft working on Splinter Cell, Far Cry 2, and, most recently, Assassin's Creed Hexe as its creative director before leaving in February and starting his current studio, Build Machine Games. The developer's quitting in winter was the second time he'd ditched Ubisoft, and he isn't involved in the Splinter Cell remake the publisher is apparently still working on despite too many layoffs this year. Nonetheless, he gives the studio his blessing.

Hocking says about Splinter Cell, "It can live on its own and other people can do what they want." He adds, "It's not my brand. I don't own it. I don't want to own it."

He explains, "I had my fill of Splinter Cell by making it." Hocking says he elected to bleed out 12, 14, 16-hour work days while making Chaos Theory over 20 years ago, telling FRVR, "I was always there because it's what I love to do and it was super engaging."

But all those hours add up. The tally equals enough Splinter Cell for one lifetime. So Hocking concludes, "To me, Splinter Cell is Chaos Theory. It's the best Splinter Cell I can make. It's the last Splinter Cell I ever hope to make." And that's all there is to it.

Valve reportedly threatened Ubisoft with a total delisting of Rainbow Six Siege "by end of day tomorrow" when it tried selling it cheaper on Uplay.

David Hayter, the iconic voice behind Metal Gear's Solid Snake, has teamed up with Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight star Shai Matheson in an adorable video response to claims that the two characters sound alike.

Sometimes the best way to answer to your critics is by laughing along with them. I know I laugh through tears every time I read another comment about the so-called "skill issue" preventing me from enjoying Souls games, and Matheson is taking a similar approach to critiques of his Lego Batman voice, which many compare to a stuffy-nosed Solid Snake. Instead of pushing back on those accusations, Matheson made a tongue-in-cheek video with Hayter in which he receives the actor's blessing.

"So, apparently a lot of you think my Batman sounds like Solid Snake from Metal Gear if he had a cold," Matheson says in the video. "I'm not sure I understand that. Do you?" he asks, before the camera pans toward Hayter, who's blowing his nose with a tissue.

"I'm sorry, I've got a bit of a cold," Hayter says.

"Oh, I get it now," Matheson admits.

Despite the wholesome, diplomatic nature of the video, I actually think the actors do a better job of dispelling comparisons than anything else. Hearing the two voices side-by-side, I genuinely don't hear it. Sure, they both speak in deep, raspy baritones, but otherwise they sound like distinct characters to me. Regardless, it couldn't be more clear that Hayter is perfectly happy for people to think Lego Batman sounds just like his Solid Snake performance.

"But hey, I just wanna say: Batman, I admire you work. You're stealthy as hell," Hayter says in his signature Solid Snake voice, shortly before the two actors bust out in laughter and the video ends.

Whatever you think of Matheson's performance, it did little to hamper our impressions of Lego Batman, with GR+ US managing editor Rollin Bishop awarding the game a commendable 4/5 stars and saying it "remixes classic stories and games to provide a single straightforward explanation for who Batman is, how he came to be, and where he and his extended found family has ultimately found themselves – without taking itself too seriously."

Metal Gear Solid Snake actor David Hayter didn't understand all of Hideo Kojima's story while recording, but says he didn't need to: "That's what makes Metal Gear, Metal Gear"

Konami has revealed the first gameplay of Metal Gear Solid 4 in Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2, and fans have noticed subtle changes and the return of the iPod.

While Metal Gear Solid 4 was in PS3 jail, many speculated that it was just a game that would be impossible to bring back, thanks to all its dumb little details and licensed content. But in a stream on the WasayaganaTV YouTube channel – hosted by Jujutsu Kaisen actor Yuichi Nakamura and radio personality Mafia Kajita – we got our first look at Guns of the Patriots running on new platforms. And within the steam it was shown that the Apple iPod is back in the game, signaling the return of its licensed content.

We didn't see them in the stream, but elsewhere in Metal Gear Solid 4, Otacon uses an Apple Mac computer, so it's probably safe to assume that sticks. There's also a crossover with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series, which allows Snake to don Altaïr's robes while sneaking around – this was confirmed to be returning in an interview around the time Solid Snake was added to Rainbow Six Siege. Also, fans spotted that the "No place for Hideo" box is still in the game; however, the link to the now-defunct Hideoblog was removed.

Naturally, however, fans are speculating about how some of the PS3-specific parts will translate. Notably, there's an iconic scene during the game's Shadow Moses segment, in which Otacon pushes Snake to swap to disk 2 before realizing "we're on PlayStation 3" before talking about how good Blu-ray discs are. The question is whether this scene will remain in the game as is, be replaced with new voice lines about the specific consoles, or be nixed entirely.

The rest of the stream also showed some of the improvements coming to this version. Notably, Metal Gear Solid 4 running at 60fps is witchcraft we could've only dreamed of, and as one Twitter user pointed out, the loading times are way shorter when transitioning between areas. Although if you aren't stuck on a loading screen between chapters staring at Snake smoking for 15 minutes, are you really playing Metal Gear Solid 4?

I replayed Metal Gear Solid 4 last year for the first time in about a decade after beating Metal Gear Solid Delta, but I may just find myself returning to it sooner than expected to experience the upgrades on show.

Metal Gear Solid Snake actor David Hayter didn't understand all of Hideo Kojima's story while recording, but says he didn't need to: "That's what makes Metal Gear, Metal Gear"

Dishonored is now a stone cold immersive sim classic, but there's a world in which its rat-infested city streets and creative stealth options never saw the light of day because Bethesda originally had the game's developers work on Thief 4 and a Bladerunner adaptation.

Arkane Studios alum and Dishonored co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith were recently playing through their beloved imsim in a new YouTube video, where the duo took a second to remember how the project came together in the first place.

"Before we did Dishonored, we were supposed to either do Thief or Bladeunner," Colantonio recalls. As he remembers, Bethesda approached the studio to work on a Thief pitch that it was trying to secure the rights to, with a Bladerunner proposition coming soon after.

"Which is basically like coming to two cats and saying, 'We have a big bag of catnip here on the one side. We have another bag of catnip here. Which one do you want? You want both?' We were both so excited," Smith says. "Bladerunner and Thief, like two of our favorite things of all time."

Smith teases that the studio "had an amazing pitch for Thief, which would have been Thief 4," a sequel to one of the most influential stealth series ever made.

"We were in a in a such a dire situation business-wise and they came up not only to save us, but also to bring, frankly, the IP that I would have liked to work on the most," Colantonio adds. In the end, both deals fell through and the directors feared Bethesda wouldn't be interested in working with the team without a big IP attached. "Eventually they said, 'Ah, it's okay - keep what you're doing and, uh, and call it Dishonored.'" The rest is history.

Smith continued to work at Arkane Austin until its closure a few years back. Colantonio founded another developer, WolfEye Studios, that's currently making an unannounced first-person imsim. Meanwhile, Arkane Lyon is developing Marvel's Blade.

Arkane Studios founder says he could see himself "working on Dishonored 3 right now," though creating a sequel was "the last thing I wanted to do" after making the first game

A modder is fixing an issue that has persisted with Metal Gear Solid 3 since 2011's HD Collection release – one that most people didn't really notice.

Metal Gear Solid 3 is the greatest game ever made – this was the subject of the first thing I ever wrote for GamesRadar+, about a game I've inhaled as many times as Kirby inhales a Waddle Dee. And yet, somehow, I never noticed that the 2011 HD collection version of the game, which was then ported over to Master Collection in 2023, actually had a broken camera in it the whole time.

As spotted by PC Gamer, Afevis Solmunko, one of the developers behind the MGSFix mod – who also found a hidden third-person mode in Metal Gear Solid 2's HD port – is working on a fix for the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection to fix the framing of cutscenes so that they match how they appeared in the PS2 original.

"In both 2011 [HD Collection] & 2023 [Master Collection], the camera in ALL of MGS3's cutscenes is ~10% higher than PS2's framing, cutting off the bottom of the screen," he explains. "Now fully corrected/properly centered by MGSHDFix."

Turns out, Metal Gear Solid 2 has the same issue, with Solmunko also speaking about potentially fixing that one, too, in a message on the Metal Gear Network Discord server.

Granted, there aren't massive things being missed in the HD version's framing, as in, there's nothing as bad as The Simpsons was on Disney+ at launch. Clearly so, since most of us never actually noticed the difference for 15 years.

Metal Gear Solid's Snake actor didn't want to sound like the character Hideo Kojima took so much inspiration from it reportedly nearly got him sued.

After 15 years, Metal Gear Solid 2's unfinished third-person camera mode has finally been found in the Master Collection version of the stealth classic.

Afevis Solmunko – one of the developers behind the MGSFix mod, which spruces up the PC version of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1 – posts on Twitter (spotted by PC Gamer), "accidentally found third person view in MGS2MC" while sharing videos of it in action. They note "it locks the camera to overhead view when in super-tight corridors so you don't clip through walls, but otherwise... yeah, it been there for 15 years."

15 years in this case refers to the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, released by Bluepoint Games in 2011, and the basis for the versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 in Master Collection.

As a user in the responses points out, series creator Hideo Kojima mentioned in an interview around the release of HD Collection that "we experimented with putting a 3D camera in there" and turns out the experiments were hidden in there the whole time. This change effectively gives Metal Gear Solid 2 the same treatment as Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence, where you can turn it into a more traditional third-person shooter style of play.

It's definitely going to be fun to return to Metal Gear Solid 2 to check this out, but I can also see it being a Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes situation. The GameCube remake of the original Metal Gear Solid added in the first-person aiming from its sequel, which in turn absolutely killed the balance of the game, since the world wasn't planned for you being able to properly aim (the most notable being the Revolver Ocelot fight, which becomes a total joke). So, a third-person MGS2 could definitely see the same balance issues, but as a fun way to replay the game, I'd have loved to see an official version of this emerge for the HD Collection.

Metal Gear Solid's Snake actor didn't want to sound like the character Hideo Kojima took so much inspiration from it reportedly nearly got him sued.

Hideo Kojima wants to go to space. He's made this very known, and frankly, I'm not sure the world would be ready for whatever game he'd come up with after escaping the planet for a while. But Valve boss Gabe Newell was clearly eager to help the Metal Gear mastermind make the right connections, as emails have now been released showing Newell asking Elon Musk to give Kojima a tour of SpaceX.

As spotted by PC Gamer, the newly revealed emails have appeared as part of the Musk v Altman lawsuit, listed in the "amended joint exhibit list" filed on April 24. For some background, Musk is suing the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman (who's also one of the co-founders alongside Musk), and the company itself, with the first complaint filed in August 2024 alleging that "Altman assured Musk that the non-profit structure" of OpenAI "guaranteed neutrality and a focus on safety and openness for the benefit of humanity, not shareholder value. But as it turns out, this was all hot-air philanthropy – the hook for Altman's long con."

Anyway, this email from Newell dates back to October 2018, and he gets right to the point. Kojima - "Metal Gear series, a real visionary in our field" - had just visited Valve, "talking about his new game," he says – which we can infer was the first Death Stranding, given the timing of his visit (and resulted in a delightful photo of the pair). Newell says Kojima "mentioned the importance he places on future work in AI."

This part isn't too surprising – more recently, the Death Stranding mastermind has stated that he'd "like AI to handle the tedious tasks that would lower cost and cut down on time," but "would lead the creative part" himself. However, while he can see uses for the technology, he's also expressed concerns that "humans would become spoiled" if they became too reliant on it.

Emailing Musk, Newell says he told Kojima that he'd be "happy to introduce him to the people at OpenAI," but that's not all. "The second thing is he was talking about how much he wants to go into space, and I offered to introduce him to you," Newell writes. "He'd love to get a SpaceX tour."

Responding to Newell's email, Musk seems enthusiastic about the idea. "Sure, it would be great to meet Hideo Kojima and he's welcome to see the rocket factory," Musk writes, telling the Valve boss to "send him my email."

Sadly, this plan still hadn't come to fruition by 2020, when Kojima seemingly made reference to some of these details in an interview with The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley. Mentioning that he visited Valve "maybe four, five years ago" (which would place this well before Newell's 2018 email, so the timeline isn't entirely clear here), Kojima explains: "Gabe said, 'Since we love space so much, let's go visit SpaceX because I know Elon Musk, and I'll contact him, and let's go.'" Poor Kojima seemed slightly disappointed, however, when he added: "Actually, I was really anticipating really going together, but we haven't done that yet."

That didn't lead to Kojima giving up on his dream, though. In 2023, he explained that "I want to go to outer space and create a game you can play in space," pleading: "Please someone send me up to space." Then, last year, he told The Guardian that he wants to "go to the International Space Station and stay there for a few months," adding: "I could probably make games in space. I want to be the first."

At the very least, an image of Kojima appears in the night sky in Death Stranding 2, so he's made it up there in some form. But who knows, perhaps one day we'll see him and Newell set off to the moon together.

Valve chief Gabe Newell saw today's consoles coming a long time ago: "All the consoles are using PC graphics hardware now."

Despite being the star of the series, Metal Gear Solid actor David Hayter says he doesn't fully understand the story of the series either.

Speaking to Fall Damage, Hayter is asked about the series' storyline, responding, "Do I understand the story of Metal Gear Solid? Uh, basically I do; Do I understand all of it? Absolutely not," adding, "I didn't understand all of it while we were recording it."

"I'd be like, 'What does this mean?' and they'd say, 'just say it. And I'd be like, 'Okay.'" Hayter recalls. But he doesn't begrudge the series for it, as he adds, "again, that's what makes Metal Gear, Metal Gear." Hayter explains, "There's more information. There's more character development. There's more detail to the story than you can ever possibly absorb, no matter how many times you play it." He adds, "that's what makes the world feel real and rich and lovable."

Metal Gear is one of those series that gets hit with the 'nonsensical story' stick often, and while it does venture into some wild territory, the core storyline has always been pretty easy to follow. Not to mention it takes place across seven canon games, so we're hardly talking about Kingdom Hearts or Persona, where a golf spinoff would somehow be canon.

Although even the most hardcore of Metal Gear fans like myself will admit that it got a touch convoluted around Metal Gear Solid 4, with elements like a possessed character actually just brainwashing themselves to think they were possessed for two games, a character who was immune to the villain's greatest weapon because he has chronic IBS, and some frankly dumb retcons to tie things into other games.

Metal Gear Solid's Snake actor didn't want to sound like the character Hideo Kojima took so much inspiration from it reportedly nearly got him sued

Metal Gear Solid lead actor David Hayter says he intentionally didn't try to mimic Snake's inspiration when creating the voice for the character.

Speaking to Fall Damage, Hayter says, "When we started Metal Gear and I started taking on Snake, I didn't want him to sound like Kurt Russell from Escape from New York." He explains: "I knew that there were similarities there and I felt like he needed to sound more weathered, you know, that he had been through a lot more than I had been through at that point in my life."

Russell played the character Snake Plissken in the film, a mullet-donning, cigarette-smoking, eyepatch-wearing badass, to which Hideo Kojima was clearly inspired for both Solid Snake and Big Boss. He even acknowledged this, with Metal Gear Solid 2 introducing Iroquois Pliskin a character who looks suspiciously like Solid Snake (but it couldn't be, he died on that tanker two years ago).

Before Hayter was replaced as Big Boss – with Kiefer Sutherland playing the role in Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes – Kojima actually tried to get Kurt Russell himself to play the character in Metal Gear Solid 3. Escape from New York director John Carpenter also revealed that the studio wanted to go after the game for ripping off the film, but "I told them not to do that. I know the director of those games, and he's a nice guy, or at least he's nice to me."

Hayter has a point, though, while Metal Gear Solid was many people's entry point to the franchise, Solid Snake was already in retirement by the time that game took place, with the original MSX2 games taking place 10 and six years before the PS1 title (where he would get a voice for the first time). So, the weathered take on the character was probably the right one, and would prove to be one of the most iconic voices in gaming.

Hideo Kojima and Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki's games have something other AAA titles don't, former PlayStation boss says: "You can tell it's their visions."

It's been 13 years since the last mainline Splinter Cell game, 2013's Blacklist, and although Ubisoft insists the Splinter Cell remake is still happening despite its ongoing "major reset" and downsizings, one indie developer isn't holding his breath.

Lizard State is a new stealth action game from solo developer Benjamin Rose "inspired by the classics." Nothing in any of the game's official press materials mentions Splinter Cell by name, but one look at the game's reveal trailer is all you need to see to know Lizard State is a spiritual successor. See for yourself:

Even the game's Steam description makes it very clear which games Rose was inspired by making Lizard State.

The game has a "short, focused stealth campaign," "visuals inspired by classic PS2-era games," "levels that open up with interconnected paths, different routes and shortcuts," an "advanced light/shadow system" that forces you to stay in the shadows to avoid being seen, and an "advanced hearing system" where you have to be mindful of your footsteps so you don't trigger enemy AI. There's also a hacking system, "reactive AI," and multiple difficulty levels and optional objectives. Yup, sounds like Splinter Cell.

Story-wise, the whole thing takes place over the course of a single night, in which you're tasked with saving a hostage held up by a renegade-occupied island. I'm not sure what that has to do with lizards, but it sounds cool.

Right now, Lizard State is slated to release "soon," and in the meantime, you can add it to your Steam wishlist if you like what you see.

Here are the best stealth games you can play right now.

Thick as Thieves, the new stealth game from OtherSide Entertainment, a studio founded by immersive sim legend Warren Spector, is dropping the previously confirmed PvPvE elements in favor of single-player and co-op gameplay.

I've been cautiously optimistic - heavy on the cautiously - about Thick as Thieves since it was announced back in December 2024. Spector is a titan of the industry largely credited as one of the pioneers of the immersive sim genre, having produced the foundational 1992 action-RPG Ultima Underworld, created the original Deus Ex, and coined the term immersive sim.

As chief creative officer of OtherSide Entertainment, Spector looked at today's immersive sims and thought, "we could do better," and that's why we have Thick as Thieves. It's a compelling hook, but I don't need PvPvE shenanigans in my immersive sims, especially not as a core component, and thankfully, that part of the game has been scrapped entirely.

"When we first revealed Thick as Thieves we intended to focus on PvPvE gameplay," reads a Steam update from OtherSide. "However, as development progressed and the world of Kilcairn has come to life, we found that we were having more fun with solo and co-op play."

For that reason, the studio is ditching PvPvE to focus "on two-player co-op and single player." Heck yeah.

"This sharpened focus has allowed us to double down on what makes Thick as Thieves truly special – dynamic stealth gameplay," OtherSide says, adding that the switch-over has already "strengthened the moment-to-moment action, whether you’re playing solo or with a partner in co-op."

I'm not surprised. Immersive sims should be big, complex, interconnected webs of systems vying for my attention, and I'm too competitive to focus on all of that on top of PvP. Co-op actually sounds like an interesting system as, if it's implemented right, it could compliment the systems-driven gameplay in fun ways. We'll have to see how it all shakes out when Thick as Thieves releases on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime this year.

Sneak through the kingdom performing daring heists in retro immersive sim Project Shadowglass

Who doesn't love a good vampire? But, the fanged creatures can be notoriously difficult to get right when it comes to video games, let alone playing one yourself. Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong doesn't get everything right, but in adapting the '90s tabletop RPG's penchant for intrigue and politicking rather than combat (the flipside being an issue in our Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 review), it nails a juicy, claret-running formula that my fangs are itching for a second taste of. Swansong, at times, plays like a Vampire Hitman.

Of the game's three playable characters, Galeb Bazory has a few things in common with Hitman's Agent 47. Both are the strong silent type, men of action who get the job done even against seemingly impossible odds, and even have mysterious pasts throughout which they have both carried out a huge number of assassinations. While all three characters in Swansong are sent by the vampire Prince into some pretty dangerous situations to deal with an attack from the Second Inquisition, Galeb's missions are the most deadly, and he just has to roll up his sleeves, then roll his eyes, and roll with the circumstances to doggedly dismantle the vampire hunter threat. How? By getting a bit Hitman with it.

Tactical vampire action

The Second Inquisition branch you deal with through Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong comes from the Society of St. Leopold, who are leading a religious crusade to burn out the vampire presence in Boston. With the location of the Inquisition operating base found, Galeb is sent in to infiltrate it during Scene Six. It's the most sprawling and ambitious mission in the game, and one where I really get a taste for how Vampire: The Masquerade could handle a greater focus on espionage.

On the backfoot, with some of his vampiric skills negated by mysterious Second Inquisition technology, Galeb must infiltrate slowly and carefully – getting his claws on security passes to open up more sections of the underground base to locate its leader, while burning through his limited blood powers to convincingly blend in as a fellow agent. An option to try to brute force your way through this level can even result in an early failure, skipping the section entirely but with some less than ideal consequences.

The branch's leader can only be located with one of three commander's special identity chips, each presiding over a wing of the base. There's an archivist of ancient tomes, a surgeon who cuts up supernatural bodies to try to better understand them, and a soldier who tests out vicious weapons in a shooting range. Worming your way between each, you get a better idea of the relationships between the base's elites, what each department is doing, and get to explore a bit deeper. You can, of course, inflict several ironic deaths and punishments in the process. It's extremely satisfying to quietly use vampire wiles to work through the base, feeding in quiet corners, unravelling hidden plans, and being a master of darkness.

Don't get me wrong, there's no way Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong's best level feels as slick as Hitman proper. It's all a bit too mechanical, a bit too fixed, but it is a wonderful showpiece for how quiet vampire infiltration could conceivably flourish, and it still manages to evoke a terrific sense of social (albeit superpowered) stealth. It's not the only time the Swansong plays in this space, either.

Galeb's opening mission is also electric, having him infiltrate an active crime scene to extract an asset too rich in vampire society knowledge to fall into human hands (lest the titular masquerade be broken). Calmly strutting in and using his Ventrue vampire clan powers to dominate the wills of the police force and pass himself off as an FBI investigator, he's able to run rings around the cops while commanding his way through the crime scene.

Similarly, one of Leysha's earlier missions has her infiltrating a crime scene as well, instead using her Malkavian vampire clan powers of deception to create illusory uniforms or fully duplicate identities to move through levels of security, from simple police officers to forensics. Also target-based, she has to discover where a fellow vampire went and ideally escape with her, meaning she has to stealthily follow threads of visions to unravel the events that happened. Swansong is mostly focused on putting together a delightfully compelling narrative RPG experience, but the bones are definitely in place for more social stealthing as well – I'd love to see this format revisited and expanded upon.

As a tabletop roleplaying game, there's a lot of different ways to play Vampire: The Masquerade, but with one of the core principles being upholding the secrecy of vampire society, it's always felt best to me when operating from the shadows. There's a lot of different ways to do that, of course – especially when it comes to adapting the setting for video games.

Personally, I've spent many hours crouch-walking through air ducts or silvertonguing my way through whatever I can in the classic Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, before suffering my way through its combat-heavy final hours. Likewise, the excellent text RPG Vampire: The Masquerade – Night Road was a thrill when I was using my wits to complete each courier job, and in Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice, in VR, stalking the Venetian rooftops before my Dishonored-like stealth kills is incredibly satisfying when my glasses aren't fogging up.

Which does mean that purely action approaches just don't fit the bill as far as I'm concerned, and can result in some pretty rough experiences. I've got a soft spot for Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption, but bashing through legions of foes in Diablo-like dungeons is as bizarre a choice now as it was then. So too am I baffled by Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 ridding itself of the original's admittedly clunky immersive sim DNA to go for a more linear combat-centric adventure (meaning you'd even stealth through some areas just to be told you can't progress until enemies in the area have been defeated).

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong definitely isn't perfect, but its real dedication to translating the TTRPG's rules, tone, and objective variety into a video game is admirable, and creates some seriously great social stealth scenarios in the process. VTM is a rich world that still has a lot of possibilities, but that doesn't mean devs working with the series need to go completely back to the drawing board. As far as I'm concerned, the blueprints for making the Vampire Hitman of my dreams are already there – I just hope they don't remain relegated to the shadows.

After 15 hours of Bloodlines 2 disappointment, the embrace of Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong has healed my bloodied heart

Whether they're adding tank controls to Resident Evil 2 Remake or making dragon marriage legal in Skyrim, mods are capable of beautiful things. The latest example lets Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain players experience the game the way Hideo Kojima originally envisioned: with Ground Zeroes serving as a prologue at the beginning.

Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes was originally being developed as the opening mission and prologue to The Phantom Pain, but it was split off and released as a separate game because Kojima wanted fans to have something to play when the new generation of consoles, then the PS4 and Xbox One, released. However, Kojima reiterated in a 2023 social media post that the original plan was for Ground Zeroes to simply be a prologue quest in The Phantom Pain.

It only took 11 years, but you can finally play the two games as if they were one, as Kojima originally envisioned. Created by RLC and uploaded to NexusMods by CapLagRobin, the mod fully integrates Ground Zeroes' campaign, which takes place a few months after Peace Walker, to the beginning of The Phantom Pain, bridging the two games into a cohesive whole that theoretically is more true to Kojima's original vision.

The modder admits "many issues persist" and there are some "features not implemented," but if you follow the instructions (which require you to own a copy of Ground Zeroes), the Ground Zeroes mission will be added to The Phantom Pain's mission list on the iDroid. By default, the game will transition into the Ground Zeroes mission automatically after you beat Episode 1: Phantom Limbs, but there are options to let you turn off automatic transitions.

Of course, this also means Ground Zeroes' Camp Omega map is now fully explorable in The Phantom Pain's free roam system, allowing you to run around as Venom, do fun stuff like Fulton extractions, and even do side ops. There's no way of knowing if these elements were added in a way that's entirely faithful to Kojima's original plans, but until we get an official re-release bridging the two games together, this is by far the closest we've got to the developer's original vision.

10 years later, Metal Gear Solid 5 remains a masterpiece that was never going to live up to its own hype

Solid Snake is finally back on the right path once again as Rainbow Six Siege gives him bigger cheeks than his most recent appearances.

Snake had a hard life. Not only has Metal Gear Solid's star player not had an appearance in the games since 2008, but since then his crossover appearances have committed crimes against him. In Metal Gear Solid 2, 4, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Solid Snake is caked up, Kojima insisted that he has a better ass than Raiden, and boy did the team deliver which led to the iconic "the clap of my ass cheeks keeps alerting the guards" meme that even David Hayter himself got in on.

But Snake's first appearance in 10 years for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was the start of a worrying trend, yes it was nice to see Snake again, and some signs of life for the then-dormant Metal Gear series, but his cake was heavily nerfed, he had a flat ass. Then years later when he appeared in Fortnite, it got even worse, it was gone, he was so flat he made Hank Hill look like Aunt Fanny from the 2005 film Robots.

However, there is a spark of hope. As Twitter user HEITAIs points out (via machine translation) that with his upcoming appearance in Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft is trying to right one of the most horrific wrongs bestowed upon Snake, as he appears to be a bit more thick than his Fortnite and Smash days. Granted, he's still not the whole bakery as he was in his heyday, but it's a good first step in the return of Metal Gear.

Hayter even commented on the shrinkage, calling it "concerning if true", so with Snake himself alerted of some of the wrongdoings bestowed upon him, hopefully Metal Gear Solid 6 will have him as caked up as Kojima intended.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2's included games disappear from storefronts without warning

As Ubisoft continues to undergo the "major reset" the publisher's leadership announced last month, 40 developers at the company's Toronto studio have hit the chopping block. Ubisoft Toronto is the studio behind the long-promised Splinter Cell remake, and somehow, the company insists the project is still happening, even with all the layoffs.

"This decision was not taken lightly and does not in any way reflect the talent, dedication, or contributions of the individuals affected," a Ubisoft spokesperson tells Canadian tech outlet MobileSyrup. "Our priority now is to support them through this transition with comprehensive severance packages and robust career placement assistance." GamesRadar+ has reached out for comment.

Ubisoft additionally confirmed that it's still working on the Splinter Cell remake it first announced way back in 2021. I'd certainly forgive you for doubting Ubisoft's word here given that we haven't seen a single second of Sam Fisher's return even now, but hey, this is one game publisher that moves in mysterious ways. If Skull and Bones can make it to market after a decade in development hell, who knows what else is possible?

But equally, the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake is officially dead, and Ubisoft's similar assurances that Beyond Good and Evil 2 is still happening continue to ring pretty hollow. No game at a major publisher ever seems to be more than one mediocre financial quarter away from cancellation these days, and that remains true no matter how storied the franchise is.

More important than any individual game, of course, are the developers making them. We don't know the scale of the layoffs that will happen at Ubisoft overall in the months to come, but the company has ominously promised investors that it will "rightsize the new organization." A "voluntary" layoff plan that would cut 200 jobs is on the table at Ubisoft's Paris headquarters, and even with 40 more jobs lost in Toronto, I doubt we've seen the end of the cuts just yet.

Hideo Kojima is reminiscing over the Metal Gear Solid 3 Premium Package, and the impressive list of contributors for its included book.

Metal Gear Solid 3 is the best game ever made if you ask me (which you should, because it's true). Over 20 years later, there's a reason the game that was the worst-selling Metal Gear Solid game of the original four entries is one people still talk about to this day, and the one Konami elected to remake with 2025's Metal Gear Solid Delta. And even though he's no longer involved with the series, series creator Hideo Kojima has been reminiscing over his magnum opus.

Over on Twitter, Kojima posts images of one of the books included in the Japanese-exclusive Metal Gear Solid 3 Premium Package, recounting the wild list of contributors included. Names like future Kojima collaborator Guillermo del Toro, filmmaker John Woo, Parasite Eve author Hideaki Sena, and Polish author Stanisław Lem were included in the book. Kojima notes, "The lineup of contributors has now become legendary."

Kojima recalls, "At the time, neither the contributors nor I had any fear. The energy we had was incredible." He also includes photos of messages left by some of the contributors, with del Toro saying "all of a sudden, Pain, Fear, and Sorrow are things I look forward to" in reference to the game's boss fights, adding: "Konami has nailed the mood, the moves, the fights. Awesome!"

Woo says the series has "played an important part in the history of the video game industry," and adds, "The classic battles between Liquid Snake and Solid Snake definitely belong on the big screen."

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2's included games disappear from storefronts without warning

Without warning, Konami has delisted the games featured in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2.

Delisted games are nothing new – it feels like every other week there's a new story of a classic being removed, leaving no way to purchase them. Typically, these are due to rights issues, with Marvel vs. Capcom, The Simpsons Arcade Game, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game all being ripped from stores over the years. But other times, delistings happen to push you to the new version of the game, like we saw with Rockstar, which delisted GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas in favor of the anything but definitive Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

Metal Gear games have been delisted in the past, with historical footage used in Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 causing those games to be delisted in 2021. However, this time around it seems like Konami might have pulled a Rockstar.

After the announcement of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 last week, fans noticed that the PS3's Metal Gear Solid 4, PSP's Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, and its console version Peace Walker HD have been removed from the PS3, PSP, and Xbox stores, meaning the upcoming release will be the only way to get both games digitally. I've personally checked on the PS3, Vita, and Xbox Stores, and can confirm the removal of these titles.

While this sucks anyway, it's especially bad for anyone still on Xbox One, as Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 won't be releasing on the last-gen console. So now there's simply no way – outside of tracking down a physical copy – of playing Peace Walker on the platform. Plus, it's a bit unfortunate considering the collection is still six months away, meaning no one will be able to pick them up in the meantime.

As weird as it is to say, however, I really hope it simply is a case of wanting to push players to the new edition, because Monster Hunter content and The Carpenters' music are integral parts to the Peace Walker experience, and them missing from a future re-release would be a huge shame.

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker co-op, inspired by the Monster Hunter craze, lives on in Master Collection Volume 2

Crouching like the little goblin thief I am in the rafters in Styx: Blades of Greed, I'm watching a group of guards circle below me, lit by a crackling fire. Too many to take out all at once and there's one beefy chappy in armor, but some tantalizing loot nearby – trinkets I'm keen to pour into my pockets – means I can't resist not bypassing this room entirely. I'm not stumped by how to maneuver Styx, the self-titled master of shadows – I simply have so many options. This stealth series, now a semi open-world, encompasses three maps of interlocking and expansive structures, teeming with open-ended main objectives and a bevy of booty to get my green mitts on.

A plate of food nearby that the bulky armored chap can't help but snack on is one option, but even then I could choose to either crawl along below the table, unnoticed, timing just when I pop out from the shadows to vomit my lethal poison bile across his munchies, or I could pop some of my limited amber magic to become temporarily invisible, more directly plonking across the surface with silenced footsteps. Instead, I go low-magic, classic, choosing to palm an empty bottle nearby, chuck it into the corner of the room to grab their attention, jump onto some carpet to keep my landing quiet, collect my goodies, and desperately vomit up bile so I can douse the fireplace, literally scuttling inside to clamber out the chimney, working my way up one of the massive fortresses that make up The Wall – one of the huge dense and dingy maps Styx intends to rob blind.

Quartz-a horizon

For once, though Styx is – sort of – on a selfless quest. Finding it hard to kick his amber habit, he's gotten wind of a new magical juice, Quartz, the power of which is increasing at such a dangerous rate the harsh world he inhabits could be destroyed. Now, with two games beneath his cloak, that unfortunately includes at least a couple of people this grumpy, gruff goblin cares about in addition to his own gnarly skin. Plus, thanks to his uniquely amber-soaked body, he's one of the few creatures who can absorb and neutralize that Quartz energy and use it as power up. Waste not, want not.

Styx: Blades of Greed's foundations will be familiar to series fans, but a lot has changed in the nine years since the second game. Many of Styx's usual thief tricks are present and accounted for, such as the ability to clamber up to a lit torch to turn it off, or mix spit and sand for a glob projectile that does much the same. He can still hide in this world's many empty trunks and closets to pull a guard inside to meet a swift death. Or silently skitter below small tables. I love how much Styx being a goblin factors into the play and sense of space.

Yet, Styx can now do so much more – which is quite funny considering the plot kicks off mere seconds after the second game's cliffhanger ending. Within moments our goblin antihero is double jumping across a huge rock giant in a God of War 3 flavored opening, speed-sidling across large gaps, and wall running – all new moves. It can make the opening hours of Styx: Blades of Greed a bit disorienting, Styx working his way through small tutorial areas with his suite of abilities clearly suited to mastering much bigger spaces. There's the fear that it's all become a bit too easy. Even being able to move with a grabbed guard to silently slit their throat rather than being locked in place completely changes the pace of play compared to the older Styx games.

But then, you're unleashed upon the open world, each 'act' of the game giving you a new range of Quartz to find and collect, and the slicker movement makes a lot more sense. Many little buildings are simply stop-offs across one of many possible routes through each dense environment, and each Quartz is usually housed in huge sprawling structures you can see far off in the distance. Styx's new mobility options allow you to worm your way to and through them effortlessly, instead shifting the focus on how you tackle situations, or even how you approach and enter an area. Do I shift and shimmy around to look for an open window? Or, run full pelt down the steps, past the guards, but then use a clone decoy ability to make them think they've slain the threat while I've slipped into the shadows?

Styx: Blades of Greed has a well-tuned difficulty curve that dials up the challenge just enough as you grow your powers and get familiar with their situational uses. Major story beats that dish out vital, additional traversal options, such as the grapple hook and paraglider (I won't spoil the others), don't just expand each open world, allowing Styx to push into further areas, but recontextualize older spaces, many of which hide goodies for a hefty number of sidequests. That massive garrison built into the cliff-side might have been tough to sneak up the first time, but return later and Styx's new powers make breaking and entering into a joke – though new, stronger guards and placement will still make you scratch your goblin noggin if you want to nab that relic you've been tipped off about.

Main quests can hold your hand a bit more, especially early on – but the deeper you get the vaguer objectives become, often just giving you a location and leaving you to follow the very obvious signs of Quartz use (huge, glowing blue energy chains for the most part), and how to deactivate security. Often, Styx can eavesdrop or find spying locations to learn more (which is never, I think, mandatory – I skipped more than a few thanks to my goblin wits), though sidequests rarely give you more than basic information. I never really cared about rewards from these bonus activities, but the sheer joy of the crime is all the satisfaction I need.

Not dissimilar to Metal Gear Solid 5, each mission has Styx deploy at unlockable balloon-travel points across each map. The Wall is a dense urban sprawl of fantasy shacks and huge stone zeppelin docks where you sneak through alleys, along rooftops, and hide under market stalls. The Akenash Ruins, meanwhile, recontextualize a number of spaces from the very first game – which is neat to see – and often revolve around more linear evasion challenges as you explore deeper within them for forgotten treasure. Turquoise Dawn meanwhile is another dense sprawl, though a mix of swamp and jungle, with hastily constructed wooden forts and halls built into huge trees, where human forces and the dreaded Inquisition are warring with the peaceful orcs, here dense brush providing just as much cover as shadow.

Metal gear goblin

These open worlds in Styx: Blades of Greed feel like they take the ambition of Styx: Master of Shadows' large maps, and combine it with the increased density of Styx: Shards of Darkness' smaller zones to create a culmination of the dark fantasy stealth the games have been aiming for across many years. At times, taking stock of enemy patrols and unravelling the inner workings of large buildings reminds me of playing some of Hitman's best levels, while the subterfuge and the way each location is connected together in one big map nods to Metal Gear Solid 5. Except, here in Styx: Blades of Greed, the density means there's not much dead space at all. I was hugely sceptical about Styx going open world, but I'm massively impressed by how well it's pulled off – not that there's much competition in the pure open world stealth game space.

It's not perfect, though. Even as the complexity increases as the game goes on, you do reach a point where guard reactions can be a bit predictable and you know a bit too well what to expect when they become suspicious and start poking into cupboards or looking under tables. A bit more reactivity from enemies would be nice – though the unpredictability offered by a handful of areas in which sound-based and even smell-based hunters live do keep this from becoming too much of a problem. I also have to say that enemy AI is a big step up compared to the previous Styx games, though those are almost a decade old so I would expect so. Technically, too, Styx: Blades of Greed can be rough on PC – I experienced multiple crashes (though you can save so frequently it wasn't a big set back), and while the visual design is great there was a constant fuzziness to the image in some locations that I struggled to diminish no matter the settings I changed or tweaked.

All of the spaces here are as intriguing to sneak around for their narrative as much as they are their construction. It's been a while since the last Styx game, but Styx: Blades of Greed neatly builds on what came before (even tying into the Of Orcs and Men RPG from which Styx is a spin-off). There are dark fantasy tropes aplenty, but Styx has its own flavor and twists that remain intriguing. Humanity and its fantasy religion are pretty nefarious, the elves are mostly effed up, and then there's Styx himself.

At first a goblin in a world where they don't exist, he's now the only goblin who can speak in a world infested by a plague of them, considered non-sentient by everyone else – he's utterly alone even among his own. Styx: Blades of Greed's story is light touch, but slowly building a band of outcasts, from the delightfully devilish elf Djarak to dwarven, human, and orc companions makes for a nice vibe that reminds me of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's tone.

Sometimes, I felt like I could use Styx's powers to break progression a bit – sneak too hard, too fast, too deviously. But I could never be sure. Styx: Blades of Greed is filled with so many ways to sneak through areas (or fight in a pinch, but thankfully the goblin is so bad in combat it's never a good idea) that you really do feel like you're crafting your approach to each thieving challenge, and that the game allows or even expects you to push at its edges. You can even jump off the real-time fast-travel balloons partway through flight to leap at areas from fresh angles.

Styx: Blades of Greed is a huge adventure full of opportunities to sneak through a dense and dark fantasy open world and I'll give this goblin one thing – I certainly didn't see him coming.

Styx: Blades of Greed was reviewed on PC, with code provided by the publisher.

Want to stay goblin mode? Check out the best stealth games for more!

Hitman developer IO Interactive has always seemed like an ideal studio for a 007 adaptation, for reasons that probably don't need specifying here. That said, IO has long been transparent about not wanting 007: First Light to simply be a Hitman game starring James Bond. The studio has also made clear its next game won't be an Uncharted-style action game, either - even if it really looks like one - making it something of an open question exactly what style of gameplay is to be expected.

Talking to Game Informer, Gameplay director Andreas Krogh compared 007: First Light's approach to stealth with how stealth is handled in the Hitman series.

"Hitman was a game where we thought about [stealth] as puzzle design. We're taking that same type of stealth into Bond," said Krogh. "But I will say an important difference is that in Bond, we are striving to do forward momentum gameplay all the time, both in combat and in stealth.

"Where in Hitman, we had some setups where we wanted you to use some time to stake out the situation and maybe poke a little bit at it to see what happens. In Bond, you can use time to observe a situation, but it's very evident there are options you can use right away, and you can just use them and see what happens and come forward. We want to reduce that decision-making time to always keep moving forward and be a little bit faster."

That checks out. While it's easy to draw parallels between Agent 47 and James Bond, the 007 IP in general is known for fast-paced chase sequences and explosive action whereas Hitman games are generally much slower paced. It sounds like IO is just trying to do justice to the respective IP.

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Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 was revealed at yesterday's Sony State of Play presentation, confirming that Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally being freed from its long-standing PS3 jail. The collection also includes the 2000 Game Boy Color game Ghost Babel and the 2010 PSP title Peace Walker, but there are plenty more Metal Gear entries not present here – including Portable Ops.

Portable Ops, released in 2006 for PSP, is something of a black sheep in the series. It's set after Metal Gear Solid 3, telling the story of how Big Boss first built the military unit that he'd lead in Peace Walker and MGS5. It'd make perfect sense for inclusion in Volume 2, since it bridges the gap between MGS3 in the previous collection and Peace Walker here.

But series lead Hideo Kojima only had minor involvement in the development of Portable Ops, and specific events from the game are only tangentially referenced in later titles. Its status as a semi-canon title might account for its exclusion here – but Ghost Babel, an entirely non-canon game, is still part of the package.

"Such an underrated game," one fan laments on Reddit. "Legitimately I think the story is the best sequel to 3 we ever got, and the gameplay is way overhated. Imo this game should be considered an integral part of the saga. Legitimately it’s story has more impact than V’s somehow."

It's not impossible that Portable Ops might sneak into the collection – after all, Konami did only reveal the NES games included in Volume 1 some time after the original announcement. "It'll either be a bonus game, Vol 3, or it's never happening," another commenter suggests, and yeah, that does seem to cover all the bases.

Likely the biggest reason we're not getting Portable Ops is that it's never previously been ported. The version of Peace Walker included in Volume 2 is based on the one included in the old HD Collection, which likely lessened the development load here. Portable Ops would need a whole new port, and given the resources Konami's already putting in to finally get Metal Gear Solid 4 off the PS3, well, maybe it figures that another bigger port project is better saved for a possible Volume 3.

There's still plenty of Metal Gear left to fill out future collections, too. There are the Acid games, PSP deckbuilders with big cult followings, and Platinum's excellent, over-the-top action title Metal Gear Rising: Reveangance. Plus, of course, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and its premium-priced preview, Ground Zeroes. Heck, there's even Metal Gear Survive if you really need to scrape the bottom of the barrel. Maybe it's premature to talk about all this when Volume 2 was only just announced, but there's more than enough material left to fill Volumes 3 and 4.

Metal Gear gave us some of the best PSP games ever released.

Konami has confirmed that despite online modes being stripped from Metal Gear Solid 3 and 4's Master Collection editions, Peace Walker will keep its online functions in Master Collection Volume 2.

Metal Gear Solid 4 finally escaping PS3 jail was the headline of last night's PlayStation State of Play for Metal Gear fans. But as an elderly person – aka someone who still has his PS3 hooked up – the biggest deal for me was that Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is back, and I'll be able to play it on Nintendo Switch 2. Not only is it the most underrated of the series canon entries, but having a portable version that doesn't require the dreaded claw hand technique for camera control is a big deal.

When it was confirmed that Metal Gear Online 2 won't be back with Metal Gear Solid 4 I did get a bit fearful, but the PlayStation Blog post about the collection spoke some beautiful words to me: "This title can be played online in CO-OPS, a cooperative mode for 2 to 4 players, as well as in VERSUS OPS, a competitive mode for up to 6 players."

Now I'm a big single-player guy but Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker's co-op is one of the best things about the game. You see, Peace Walker isn't really much of a Metal Gear at all – at least in terms of the games that came before it. No, Peace Walker was Monster Hunter all along.

The game introduced the mission-based structure later found in Metal Gear Solid 5, along with lengthy boss battles akin to Capcom's flagship series – which in turn, encouraged you to play co-op to take down them together. There was even three missions where you actually took down monsters from the series with a Tigrex, Rathalos, and Gear REX – an original monster based on Metal Gear Rex who I desperately want Capcom to add to Monster Hunter Wilds.

This is why, I suspect, it's often not liked as much as the other main entries, hell, even I didn't like it the first time I played it; it took a second playthrough for me to really get that it's a banger, and stands alongside the rest of the numbered entries. And keeping the co-op that makes that experience even better will hopefully give Peace Walker a chance to stick out once more.

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