Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is in the works, but getting it on store shelves will be easier said than done.
Metal Gear series promotions director Jiro Oishi and production producer Noriaki Okamura touched on plans for its tactical espionage action franchise in a recent Production Hotline episode posted by Konami. During a Q&A segment, Okamura acknowledged the fans eagerly waiting to learn which games will be included in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. However, bringing some of the newer titles to modern audiences comes with a unique set of issues, including a desire to dodge the problems Vol. 1 faced at launch.
While Okamura assures that an additional entry in the Master Collection is in the works, the team doesn’t want to run into the same issues that plagued Vol. 1 buyers at launch. PC players, for example, were quick to criticize the Metal Gear Solid collection’s lack of display settings and locked 720p resolution. These issues as well as others saw its Steam reviews brought down to “mixed,” though it did eventually bounce back, with many titles from the collection now boasting a “very positive” banner.
“We’re also worried about how Vol. 1 had a pretty rough launch, with all of the issues,” Okamura added, “so we’re going to do everything we can not to repeat that, but we just have to ask for everyone to give us time.”
There’s more than one reason Konami wants Vol. 2 to stay in the oven for a while longer, though. Games from last year’s collection, such as Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, are based on pre-existing HD ports. It helped streamline the process for Konami, but it won’t have that leg up when it comes to the remastered versions of more recent Metal Gear titles.
“We had HD ports of MGS1, 2, and 3. Or, sorry, not really for 1, but the other two,” Okamura said. “But most of the titles released after those don’t have a pre-existing HD port we could use. Some are in HD, but those would all be really big titles, and that comes with its own set of issues.”
It’s because of these hurdles that Konami says it will “be a little while” before it commits to a lineup or release date for Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. So, while Okamura isn’t ready to confirm whether fans will finally get the long-awaited Metal Gear Solid 4 port they’ve always dreamed of, he at least notes that they’ll reveal more information when the team is ready.
Konami isn’t ready to announce a Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 release date, but that won’t stop fans from guessing which titles will make the cut. Players were able to uncover evidence that games like Metal Gear Solid 4, 5, and Peace Walker will join the collection late last year. Konami itself has teased more to come in Vol. 2 since last October, going as far as to tell fans to “stay tuned” just last month. IGN was also able to confirm the list of suspected titles for Vol. 2 last year.
Meanwhile, a remake titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, is expected to arrive sometime this year. You can check out our first hands-on preview here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
