Today marks the 35th anniversary of the world-famous Metal Gear series. Konami celebrated with a quick thanks on Twitter, while also confirming something fans have been wondering about for a while. Last November, two Metal Gear Solid games were de-listed from digital storefronts over licensing issues. However, Konami has announced that it’s getting them back.
Granted, the Japanese publisher/developer said their removal would only be temporary. Still, that meant Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance would no longer be available for PC players. It was taken off the GOG marketplace in November of 2021. And it wasn’t alone. Metal Gear Solid 2 HD and Metal Gear Solid 3 HD were removed from Nvidia Shield at the same time. The only Metal Gear Solid games available on PC at this current time are the original and Metal Gear Solid V.
“Thank you to everyone that enjoyed and celebrated the series so far,” Konami wrote on the Metal Gear Twitter account. “We ask for your patience as preparations are underway to make the temporarily removed titles available again.”
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Today marks the 35th anniversary of the #METALGEAR series! Thank you to everyone that enjoyed and celebrated the series so far. We ask for your patience as preparations are underway to make the temporarily removed titles available again. #MG35th pic.twitter.com/KxXoYfCAGB
— METAL GEAR OFFICIAL (@Metalgear) July 13, 2022
Snaaaaaaaaaaaaake
The two Metal Gear Solid games were de-listed due to issues with licensing. They both used historical archive footage in-game, and Konami couldn’t renew the licenses ahead of the de-listing. Despite their removal being temporary, it’s been roughly eight months. Fans of the franchise won’t be able to play all the games on the PC platform during the anniversary. Of course, that wasn’t possibly anyway due to the fourth game still locked on PlayStation. Maybe some day.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance was an updated version of 2001’s Sons of Liberty. It featured new graphical enhancements and more cutscenes, because you can never have enough in this franchise. The third game arrived three years later, taking place decades before the original. Both games have been highly regarded as being among the best examples of stealth action. Hopefully they’ll return home soon.
