Ever since it was taken offline back in 2012, there have been murmurings that Metal Gear Online — the spin-off multiplayer component within Hideo Kojima’s seminal stealth series — would make a reappearance on new hardware.
Fast forward to 2014 and it turns out series creator Kojima is indeed ready to reintroduce the ill-fated tactical shooter, which will have its “world premiere” during next week’s The Game Awards in Las Vegas, according to longtime host Geoff Keighley.
Next Friday night I’m honored @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN will join us at @thegameawards to world premiere Metal Gear Online. pic.twitter.com/rT6sLDfdxb
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) November 27, 2014
First appearing within Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence on the PlayStation 2, the multiplayer section is perhaps best known for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Alas, it never truly gained traction in the way that Kojima would have liked, which forced the studio to shut down the servers two years ago. Now, however, Metal Gear Online is being co-developed by Kojima Productions across its Japan and LA studios, and according to the esteemed developer, the online-centric shooter is ready for its return.
Speaking to CVG a little while back, here’s what Kojima had to say:
“Multiplayer right now is being created at our LA studio as well as us. We’re working closely to create a vast multiplayer for all the fans.”
It’s intriguing that Kojima labels the rebooted title as a “vast multiplayer” experience. Could this signal that Metal Gear Online will be tethered to The Phantom Pain in the vein of Grand Theft Auto V? Time will tell.
The Game Awards 2014 will take place on December 5, 2014. Tell us, are you excited to see Kojima reintroduce a revamped slice of tactical espionage action for the multiplayer space?