The new norm of publisher and developer-specific gaming events continues with the recently announced PlayStation Showcase set to occur on May 24. Sony has been suspiciously tight-lipped regarding what it plans to unveil at the showcase, leading many to speculate what some of the bigger reveals might be. While there are sure to be some announcements regarding titles that Sony has confirmed will be releasing in 2023 (includingMarvel’s Spider-Man 2), the churning of the rumor mill has once again produced convincing evidence thatMetal Gear Solidmight be making a key appearance in some form, with the possibility of either a remake of the original orMetal Gear Solid 3the front-running candidates.
Between tweets from industry insiders supposedly confirming the existence of aMetal Gear Solid 3remake or recent rumors ofSony and Konami reaching an exclusivity agreement, there is some credence to the notion that fans might finally see a return of the storied stealth-action franchise in some form during the PlayStation Showcase. The rumor of aMetal Gear SolidorMGS3remake has been long-gestating, gaining some traction after Sony’s purchase of Bluepoint Games in 2021 and heating up again this year in the wake of several trusted sources confirming the franchise’s return. In terms of howMetal Gear Solidwill factor in to the PlayStation Showcase, there are multiple possibilities.
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A Remake of the Original Metal Gear Solid or a Remaster of the Series' Past
Metal Gear Solidmay be one of the most-requested games from the PS1-era to receive a remake on modern hardware as a marquis title for the original PlayStation. AlongsideFinal Fantasy 7,MGSwas partly responsible for the industry-wide shift in how stories were told in video games, using advanced hardware and cinematic techniques to evolve the medium far beyond the days ofPac-ManorSuper Mario Bros.However, the fact thatMetal Gear Solidhas already been remade oncefor the GameCube makes it seem less likely to be the focus at the PlayStation Showcase over other series titles.
What may be announced at the showcase as part of the series' revival is a remastering and application of HD textures to the first fourMetal Gear Solidgames, along with an announcement that Sony and Konami have entered into an exclusivity agreement to bring the games to PSN or release them as part of a physical collection. Fans have been clamoring for years forMetal Gear Solid 4to escape PS3 exclusivity, and the re-emergence of the franchise on Sony’s hardware may make this dream a reality. It’s also worth noting that 2023 is the 25th anniversary of theMetal Gear Solidfranchise, meaning the series' past receiving a remastered retrospective is a logical choice.
Bringing the Cold War to Next-Gen with a Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake
The prevailing thought accompanying the leak thatMetal Gear Solidis set to make a return on PlayStation hardware is that players will be seeing an announcement of a full remake ofMetal Gear Solid 3set to release some time in 2024.MGS3is often cited as thebest entry in theMetal Gearfranchiseand, despite the gameplay still holding up, the title does show its age as a PS2-era game. In another interesting chronological coincidence, 2024 will mark 20 years since the original release ofMetal Gear Solid 3, helping the timing of such an announcement make perfect sense.
It’s likely safe to say that no matter what form a potentialMetal Gearannouncement takes at the PlayStation Showcase, fans will be pleased to see the series make a return. Since Konami andseries creator Hideo Kojima’s very public falling out following the release ofMetal Gear Solid 5, there has been a dearth ofMetal Gearcontent in the gaming landscape. Considering the series' historical importance to the PlayStation brand, hopefully the time is nigh forMetal Gear Solidto emerge from under that cardboard box it’s been sneaking around in.
A rumoredMetal Gear Solid3remake is in development for PS5.
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