With Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1’s launch a little over a month away, many are eager to go on a return trip to Shadow Moses, New York, and Tselinoyarsk. However, Konami’s recent clarification regarding its resolution and the frame rates for the games in the collection has evoked mixed reactions from the community.
According to a recent update on the official Metal Gear Solid Master Collection website, Konami has officially revealed the target resolution and framerate for each game, depending on the platform. For Metal Gear Solid, whether you’re on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 (including PS4 Pro), Xbox Series S/X, or Steam, you’re looking at a 1920×1080 resolution at 30 FPS. The only slight deviation from this is for Nintendo Switch in Handheld Mode, which is only offering a 1280×1080 resolution at 30 FPS, while the TV Mode stands consistent with other platforms at 1920×1080 resolution at 30 FPS.
Shifting to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, all platforms, except the Nintendo Switch in Handheld Mode, will enjoy a boost in frame rate, jumping to 60 FPS, while still maintaining the 1920×1080 resolution. Meanwhile, for the Switch in its Handheld Mode, the specs remain the same as the first game with a 1280×1080 resolution at 30 FPS.
Lastly, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater mirrors the specs of the second game, with all platforms except the Switch in TV Mode running the game at 1920×1080 resolution at 60 FPS, and the Switch in Handheld Mode maintaining a 1280×1080 resolution at 30 FPS.
As you can see, none of the titles are available in 4K resolution across all platforms. However, Konami clarified before that the upcoming bundle is “outdated”. Not to mention, the new details are actually an upgrade to the previous leaks.
Konami never lied. For all intents and purposes, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is a modern port of the older Metal Gear Solid HD collection previously available on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
As much as fans would love something more, Konami can’t take afford to take such a massive risk. Maybe when Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater comes out and sells well, we’ll see a better port if not a complete remake of the first two games in the series. But, for now, we’ll have to settle with what we’re getting.
Unfortunately, not every fan is so understanding. It remains to be seen if Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 will be the next victim of another review bombing campaign or if it will be spared.
What’s clear is that the Metal Gear series continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many. Many had high hopes for Konami to give Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 a level of attention to the collection rivaling other iconic game collections. Alas, this didn’t happen. Konami is banking heavily on the power of nostalgia to carry the collection forward. But, if the public lets their wallet speaks and Konami listens, maybe the next collection, which is presumed to feature Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriot, won’t be such a low-effort re-release.
Whether the specifications will affect the sales remains to be seen. But for now, it seems Konami’s announcement is rubbing fans the wrong way.
