The future of the Metal Gear Solid series has been uncertain ever since Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain released in 2015 to critical acclaim. It is undoubtedly one of the most beloved franchises in the industry and despite the negative reception to Metal Gear Survive, many fans have not stopped asking for new entries in the series.
Multiple recent rumors have suggested that Konami is indeed working on releasing full remakes of both the original Metal Gear Solid as well as Metal Gear Solid 3. The publisher most probably realizes that there is a demand for remakes of these classic games on modern platforms, and it may pave the way for the development of the next major entry in the franchise. While MGS 2 and MGS 3 are available on some platforms, Konami has just released a statement which may lead to more frustration among the audience.
On a post on its official website, Konami states that Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 will be removed from digital storefronts today on November 8. Konami assures that this move is temporary, as the publisher is currently trying to renew the licenses for select historical footage that was used in these games. The page then goes on to list the various versions of MGS2 and MGS3 that will be impacted by this decision. The list comprises of the following platforms, PS3, PS Vita, PS Now, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, GOG.com, and NVIDIA Shield. It is perhaps not a surprise that even the online streaming versions of these games are being taken down.
Despite this issue being temporary in nature, players have been given an extremely short notice, and both Metal Gear Solid games may have already been removed by the time some users become aware of this news. Fans can hope that Konami renews the licenses for the historical footage at the earliest, and players once again have a chance to purchase these games.
Some fans have expressed frustrations with many of Konami’s decisions, especially given the company’s lack of new releases in recent years. Even eFootball 2022 released in a rough state and a major patch, which was supposed to fix some of the numerous issues that are present in the game, was delayed to next year. However, when considering all of the rumors that are currently floating around, it does seem like Konami is working on reviving interest in the multiple iconic brands it currently owns.
Source: Konami