While a decade may seem lengthy, for dedicated Metal Gear Solid enthusiasts, it feels like an eternity. Excitingly, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set to release this month, modernizing a beloved classic from the original series. However, the franchise`s long-term future looks to be placed in the hands of a new generation of game developers.
Long-time Metal Gear producers Noriaki Okamura and Yuji Korekado recently discussed their intention to transition the franchise`s development to a younger team, should Konami greenlight a new installment in the series.
Okamura, in an interview with Rolling Stone, explained the rationale behind bringing in new, younger developers: “We wanted to give them an opportunity to both learn how to create and develop a Metal Gear game and experience it firsthand. While we`ll still be involved for some time, our current objective is to cultivate a team capable of continuing the legacy and, hopefully, creating even more exciting games in the future.”
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is seen by Okamura and Korekado as a crucial step in this transition, aiming to revitalize the franchise and attract fresh talent. Korekado highlighted that experienced developers integrated feedback from younger team members to modernize the game, ensuring it retains the captivating core elements that defined its original release in the 2000s.
The franchise`s future is also expected to proceed without its original creator, Hideo Kojima. Since leaving Konami, Kojima has been actively involved with various projects at his own studio, including Death Stranding and its sequel, OD, and Phsyint, which is considered a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid.
Kojima has openly shared the mental and physical strain that game development has taken on him with age. Nevertheless, he intends to continue his creative work for as long as he can—jokingly stating, perhaps until he develops the first game in outer space. Notably, he has no plans to play Metal Gear Solid Delta.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S starting August 28. In a review, the game received a 9/10, with Tamoor Hussain describing Konami`s remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 as “a safe but successful modernization of a beloved classic.”