Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection

• 1. Announcing The Collection

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  Konami announced the first volume of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection in May 2023. This announcement came during a PlayStation Showcase event, occurring just after the reveal of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. The initial listing on the PlayStation Store confirmed that the collection would include the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake from the MSX platform. It also promised content from the Integral version of Metal Gear Solid for the first time outside Japan. A Nintendo Direct in June 2023 revealed plans to release the compilation on Nintendo Switch. That same day, releases for Windows via Steam and Xbox Series X/S were confirmed. An August 2023 update added a digital release for PlayStation 4, which offered a free upgrade to the PS5 version.

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• 2. Technical Performance And Ports

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  The games within Vol. 1 are presented at a resolution of 1080p with a maximum performance of 60 frames per second on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The Nintendo Switch version retains a native 1080p resolution in TV Mode but drops to 720p in Handheld Mode while running at 30 FPS. However, post-release testing found that all platforms were actually locked to 720p despite earlier promises. The Switch version's 30 FPS cap drew criticism because the Shield version runs at 60 FPS using the same Tegra X1 chip. The PC version lacks any graphics or audio options entirely. Konami later implemented significant updates to address these issues following the rough launch state of the collection.

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• 3. Bonus Materials And Extras

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  Vol. 1 includes motion comics titled Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel from 2006 and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée from 2008. These titles previously appeared in the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection released for PlayStation 3 in 2013. Strategy guides and screenplay books accompany each game as digital copies of original retail packaging. An in-game sound selection features twenty tracks curated from across the entire collection. Remixes of vocal tracks like The Best is Yet to Come served as pre-order bonuses for early buyers. Players can access virtual save data for other Konami PlayStation titles through the hub menu.

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• 4. Licensing And Development Timeline

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  Konami removed digital downloads for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in November 2021 due to expired licenses. The company announced intentions to reinstate the games in July 2022 for the series' 35th anniversary. M2 confirmed their involvement by providing emulation for Metal Gear, Snake's Revenge, and various regional variants. Noriaki Okumura stated plans to produce Vol. 2 in September 2024 after acknowledging the less desirable launch state of the first volume. He noted that most subsequent Metal Gear titles were not developed for high-definition consoles or ported to capable platforms.

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• 5. Regional Releases And Physical Editions

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  The Nintendo Switch version received the highest score of 78 out of 100 from review aggregator website Metacritic. Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions garnered a lower aggregate score of 74 out of 100. Reviewers praised the comprehensive nature and overall presentation of the games and their associated contents. GameSpot writer Richard Wakeling highlighted the bonus contents included outside the core games. Throughout the first year of release Konami implemented significant updates to address its rough launch state. Improved reception followed as a result of these additions despite some features being absent at launch.

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