Konami Stealthily Removes Classic Metal Gear Solid Titles Before Upcoming Remasters
Why does Hasbro keep shutting down studios instead of releasing games? Project Windless emerged as a surprise hit from last week’s PlayStation showcase, with its developers utilizing generative AI during the early development phase. And can publishers please stop delisting older versions of their games?
Sometimes I like to think that once my kids are grown and I’m semi-retired, only working part-time in the metaverse, I’ll finally have the time to dive into all those JRPGs I never finished. That’s the real Final Fantasy, if you catch my drift. At the top of my list is Stella Deus.
Out of nowhere, Konami has delisted the Xbox 360/PS3/PSP version of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, along with the 2014 PSN release of Metal Gear Solid 4. The store page for Peace Walker HD on PS3 has vanished entirely.
Shame on them for this.
The original version of the 2008 console exclusive is now permanently unavailable. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker has been removed from all storefronts, including Xbox. Both titles are completely inaccessible as Konami gears up for the launch of its recently announced Master Collection Vol. 2 remasters in August, although Guns of the Patriots will arrive without its Metal Gear Online spin-off modes.
“Unfortunately, Hasbro has made the call to close Atomic Arcade,” artist Justin Kimball shared on LinkedIn. “I was only with the studio for about a year, but from the start, I felt the studio had tons of talent and potential. I’ll miss working with the team we had and wish everyone the best.”
The toy company later stated that the game wasn’t canceled but didn’t deny the closure. “The Snake Eyes game is not canceled,” Hasbro told an outlet. “The team is currently taking time to evaluate the path forward for the game. While decisions haven’t been finalized, we’re committed to providing updates as soon as we’re able.”
Former Remedy Entertainment design lead Paul Ehreth discussed the aftermath on LinkedIn. “Now, as an independent studio, we have the opportunity to sharpen our vision and pursue new partnerships that align with our creative ambitions,” he wrote. “Our team remains motivated and deeply committed to the incredible game we’re building. The passion that brought us together is stronger than ever.”
NetEase’s exit from the studio, founded in 2023, is part of a broader strategy shift by the Chinese conglomerate to withdraw from North American development and gaming in general. This decision led to the cancellation of several other studio startups, including one by former BioWare veteran Casey Hudson.
Project Windless, based on a series of Korean novels and revealed at the PlayStation showcase last week, utilized generative AI during its exploratory phase, according to its publisher. “Krafton’s studios operate with a high degree of creative independence, enabling each team to select the tools and methods that best suit their projects,” a spokesperson stated. “We are not using generative AI for content creation or narrative elements,” they clarified.
The failed spin-off will see its servers go offline on May 17, Activision announced this week. It had already been removed from storefronts early last year. “Since then, we have made the final decision to take Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile offline,” the shutdown notice read. “While we’re proud of the accomplishment in bringing Call of Duty: Warzone to mobile in an authentic way, it unfortunately did not meet our expectations with mobile-first players like it has with PC and console audiences.”
Shutaro “Curry the Kid” Iida, a Konami veteran known for his work on the indie Metroidvania series Bloodstained, left Konami in 2015 after contributing to Metal Gear Solid V. He received a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2024. “I’m reaching my limit,” Iida wrote in his final message last month. “I’m painfully aware that I am growing weaker day by day. Please love the upcoming Bloodstained 2, and all the games that I made.”
“The game he was working on, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, is currently in development,” producer Koji Igarashi shared this week. “It is a precious work imbued with his spirit. We will carry on his vision and see it through to completion, so he won’t be disappointed. We ask for your continued support and encouragement, now more than ever.”
