2025 A Turning Point for Metal Gear and Konami Beyond Kojima

End of year thoughts 🚨 This is my short (YES I SAID SHORT! I COULD HAVE GONE ON FOR HOURS!) wall of text / end of year community rant. Some of this might be obvious and repeat information for some and some of it is my own rambling thoughts and opinions, so read if you're interested... or scroll on by and enjoy your day.

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2025 A Turning Point for Metal Gear and Konami Beyond Kojima Defining the Past, Present, and Future of Metal Gear. A year for KJP and Beyond.
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What a year it has been for Metal Gear fans. The wait for Delta felt endless, and when it finally arrived, I think it landed as a success overall. Not just for the game itself, but for the new internal Metal Gear Solid team at Konami. Yes, there were Unreal Engine issues and performance tweaks that needed attention, but despite that, a lot of fans walked away happy and genuinely enjoyed revisiting one of the most beloved entries in the series.

That experience was slightly dampened by the current state of Fox Hunt, which is a separate discussion for another time. All things considered, it feels like a missed opportunity and a failed attempt at a new mode, which is disappointing because I really wanted it to succeed.

Konami, on the other hand, had one hell of a year, and a good one at that. From a business standpoint, the company has been one of the strongest performing gaming stocks in Japan. They expanded their presence, especially domestically, and rewarded staff in Japan with multiple ongoing merit increases. That matters. It also feels like significant internal restructuring took place, and the company finally hit a turning point by diving back into the AAA gaming space.

Delta was a big part of that, but so were the Silent Hill 2 remake and Silent Hill f. Both were major successes and a long overdue comeback for Silent Hill fans. It is clear now that Konami is back in an arena many thought they would never truly return to, at least not in a meaningful way. Hopefully this momentum continues, because Konami holds some of the strongest IPs in the industry.

Back to Metal Gear. This year was pivotal for Noriaki Okamura and Yuji Korekado. Not just in terms of leadership, but in proving to the internal team and the fanbase that they can carry the series forward. With the success of the Master Collection and Delta now firmly established, learning pains and all, I feel confident they can move the series ahead while also being respectful caretakers of the games we love.

Get used to hearing the word remake. We are going to hear it a lot more. That said, I am hopeful they can eventually find a path toward something new. That feels like the ultimate goal.

One thing is certain. They are moving at their own pace. Unfortunately for most of us, that is not great news. We all want more, faster. I joke, but seriously, this year taught me that trying to predict when news will drop is a losing game unless it comes straight from Konami or an actual insider.

Going into 2026, I would ask everyone to try to be patient. They will tell us when they are ready to tell us. You can always rely on MGN to share breaking news the moment we know it, but predicting the future just is not realistic anymore. That said, there is a lot to look forward to.

Can you believe we are still getting updates for Master Collection Vol. 1? Some people might groan at that, but it is actually a good thing, especially looking ahead. It shows a commitment to fixing and supporting what is already out there. That sets an important precedent, because if that foundation is not solid, nothing that comes next really matters.

We already know that Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 is in the works. It's been confirmed multiple times in interviews.

Both Noriaki Okamura and Yuji Korekado have clearly acknowledged the overwhelming fan demand to free MGS4 from the PS3. They have openly stated that they want the game released beyond that platform, even if they cannot yet say how or when. The nod is there, and the message is obvious. They hear the fanbase loud and clear. Personally, I strongly believe the project has already been greenlit and is in the works in some capacity. The challenge now is likely figuring out the best way to release it. There are a lot of possible paths, and that alone could explain why it may take time. Still, I feel confident this is not a question of if, but when.

We also know that during a HOTLINE Production, Okamura acknowledged the fan demand for MGO in some form and clarified that Fox Hunt was not a direct response to that feedback. I still believe an MGO revival could happen someday, but for now, anything you hear about MGO is pure speculation. No one actually knows anything, so be careful who you listen to. Personally, I think something has already been greenlit, whether it is in very early planning or slightly beyond that.

Both Okamura and Korekado have also stated in multiple interviews that a Metal Gear Solid remake makes logical sense as a future project. I will throw this out there and say I think it has already been greenlit in some form, likely in early planning. They have made it clear that remaking MGS1 would be very different from Delta and would require more from every aspect of development. Gameplay, structure, and creative decisions would all need a more strategic approach, while still respecting the original.

As someone who loves MGS1 more than anything in the series, that both terrifies and excites me. At this point, I have accepted that everything will eventually be remade. It is easier to make peace with that now.

The new team has huge decisions ahead of them and possibly a massive year on the horizon when it comes to shaping the future of the series. Six months from now, we could be overwhelmed with announcements. Honestly, it is a good time to be a Metal Gear fan, whether you are new or have been here from the start.

I just hope Konami, in Japan and elsewhere, sees how hungry this fanbase is and continues to listen and communicate openly. If they do that, this could truly become a Konami people believe in again.

Lastly, it has been quite a year for Hideo Kojima. He has traveled extensively and promoted Death Stranding 2 more than any project I can remember. The response to DS2 has been overwhelmingly positive, with many fans calling it their game of the year. Outside of Delta of course I would tend to agree though admittedly I still have to finish DS2 myself (I know but this year has been crazy busy for me, I worked a lot sorry!)

Looking ahead, the road for Kojima feels more demanding than ever. For us as fans, we are likely staring down another three to five years MINIMUM of development on PHYSINT, possibly longer depending on how things unfold. Balancing that alongside other projects(OD "knock") will challenge him in ways he has not faced before.

Kojima has also been very open about wanting to explore creative paths beyond game development. That message has come through loud and clear. It is bittersweet to say, but this feels like a moment worth appreciating. Based on the recent Kojima Productions roadmap, it is hard not to feel like we are witnessing the beginning of the final chapter of his career in games.

If I had to guess, I would say he has maybe a decade left in game development before stepping away to pursue other passions. And honestly, I would not blame him at all. He has earned that freedom many times over. My hope is that PHYSINT delivers on everything we want it to be, and that his long stated goal of shaping his team to carry his creative legacy forward truly comes to fruition.

What a time to be a Metal Gear fan. If you get the chance check out some of my other opinion pieces and rants I had on my timeline, I had a lot to say this year. There is no doubt 2026 is shaping up to be another potentially huge year. Six to twelve months from now, we could be looking back at this moment as the calm before a wave of announcements. I would love to hear what everyone thinks moving forward, or how you felt about this past year and how everything played out. Let us know in the comments.

Is the best still ahead of us? Only time will tell. One thing is certain though. MGN will be there to cover it all, and hopefully you'll will be along for the journey.

-MGN

Source: MGN on X