‘Metal Gear Solid V’ Multiplayer Will Launch A Month To Five Months After Game
Those curious on why multiplayer for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has not been shown off lately got their answer Monday. Konami announced that the multiplayer portion of the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC stealth-shooter has been delayed, while the PC release of the campaign has been moved up to match consoles.
The squad-based Metal Gear Online multiplayer will now launch at different times for consoles and PC. Multiplayer for the PS4 and Xbox One will launch on October 7, a little more than a month after the game’s September 1 release. PC gamers will have to wait longer, however, as the online component won’t arrive until sometime in January 2016.
This isn’t the first game to see multiplayer released after the single-player launch. Grand Theft Auto V is the most famous example with Grand Theft Auto Online launching two months after its initial release to the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Neither Konami nor Kojima Productions gave an official reason for the delay other than to say it is due to the shuffling of resources to move the PC release of Metal Gear Solid V two weeks, so that it can release at the same time as the console versions.
“We initially did not think it would be possible to get such an epic game out onto PC in time for launch alongside its console counterparts, but all involved have worked diligently to meet the demands of our PC consumers,” commented Tomotada Tashiro, President of Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. in a press release. “Now PC users will be able to explore the vibrant and beautifully-realised locations and set-pieces that elevate Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain beyond all other action titles. We feel confident that Steam users will be satisfied with the contents we will provide for the Steam version.”
PC players who also pre-order Metal Gear Solid V on Steam will also receive Ground Zeroes for free. Xbox One owners can currently download the prequel for free through Games with Gold for the month of August. PlayStation 4 owners had their shot in June with PS Plus.
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN alongside the console iterations on September 1st: http://t.co/SkPiEJV111 pic.twitter.com/nzJSXlNTgj
— Konami (@Konami) August 3, 2015
Expect to see more from Metal Gear Solid V during Gamecom this week. Visitor’s to Europe’s largest gaming convention will have the opportunity to try out the “A Hero’s Way” mission in a playable demo. The publisher is also releasing a new trailer dedicated to Mother Base.
“The specially-created video will detail building options and unique customization elements,” Konami’s press release reads. “The video will also explain the game’s multi-player FOB (Forward Operating Base) feature, wherein users can establish additional bases around the globe to manage captured resources – and demonstrate for the first time – how users can infiltrate other players’ FOB bases to steal resources as well.”
What do you think of the shuffle of the Metal Gear Solid V PC and multiplayer releases? Sound off in the comments below.
[Images via Metal Gear Solid]
