PREVIEW – Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is bringing back one of the most iconic stealth series in glorious 4K, complete with all the polish and shine of a modern remake. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is reviving the legendary MGS 3 with a fresh, modern approach, and the excitement to dive into this true classic’s remastered version just keeps building.

Nearly twenty years after the original, we’re hoping the remake captures that familiar experience but with updated gameplay and visuals that live up to current standards. Titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, or just Metal Gear Solid Delta for short, the game has already shared enough information to make it one of the most anticipated releases on the horizon. At the recent Gamescom event, we even got hands-on time with it—check out our first impressions on the Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake!

So far, we’ve seen some trailers packed with cool easter eggs and nods to the series that longtime fans will love, though an official release date is still under wraps. But with the info we’ve managed to pull together, here’s everything we know so far about the Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Release Date

Although an official release date hasn’t been confirmed, a recently posted (and quickly removed) GameStop listing suggested that the Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake might launch on November 17, 2024. Of course, this could just be a slip-up or error on the retailer’s end, so we’ll have to wait and see if there’s any truth to it.

While the release date is still up in the air, we do know which platforms it’s coming to: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’s also not a PlayStation exclusive. We don’t know yet if it’ll make it to Xbox Game Pass on day one, but with any luck, we’ll get some clarity on that along with a confirmed release date.

Unfortunately, there won’t be any last-gen versions, so if you’re still on older hardware, you might want to consider upgrading if you don’t want to miss out on this remake. The original game was highly acclaimed in its time, so it’s looking like the new version could easily become one of the best titles on both Xbox Series X and PS5.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Trailers

On June 9, 2024, Konami dropped a dazzling in-engine trailer at the Xbox Showcase, giving us our first look at the gameplay of the iconic Boss. Check it out below!

A previous trailer already teased some gameplay, showing off iconic locations like the ruins where Snake encounters Sokolov, mountain trenches, swampy areas teeming with reptiles, a rope bridge pivotal to the Virtuous mission, and the showdown spot for the The Pain boss battle. The Unreal Engine 5 does an incredible job bringing these scenes to life.

In the short clips, we also see Snake using trees for cover while watching patrolling guards—and even taking aim in first-person view. Check it out in 4K splendor below!

Before this, there was only the announcement trailer, which gave little in terms of gameplay specifics. Instead, it featured a cinematic jungle scene, which veteran Metal Gear Solid 3 fans would recognize instantly.

The trailer opens with ants marching, followed by a bird, then a snake, and a crocodile, until finally Snake himself appears. The title Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is revealed at the end, but without any platform details or release date.

Right from that first trailer, though, it’s clear the remake is loaded with nods and easter eggs for longtime fans. You can spot the Shagohod’s silhouette in the clouds early on, a parrot that’s likely The End’s companion, and even a poison dart frog as a callback to The Fear.

The official screenshots are also fantastic to browse, and importantly, they suggest that while the environments are getting a visual upgrade, their layout and feel remain true to the original.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Story and Setting

The Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake follows the original MGS3 story and setting, so we can draw a lot from what we already know. Most of the story takes place in a Russian jungle during the Cold War, a detail hinted at in some of the sweeping shots from the first trailer.

The story itself will stay true to the original, so if you’ve played the 2004 version, you’ll have an idea of what to expect. But if you’re new to Metal Gear Solid 3 and are waiting for the remake, it’s worth brushing up on the plot so you can enjoy the high-stakes action with some context.

MGS3 serves as a prequel for the whole series, telling the backstory of Big Boss, one of the series’ key figures. Your mission as Naked Snake is to infiltrate Soviet territory and prevent the creation of a weapon of mass destruction. You’ll receive instructions over the radio as you take on various missions, avoid detection by enemies, and constantly make critical decisions to keep yourself safe.

This game (even as a prequel) was the first to deviate from the traditional Metal Gear Solid formula, shifting the focus from tech gadgets to survival tactics. You’ll have to make clever use of the environment, though it’s not all in your favor—the jungle and its wildlife are just as likely to blow your cover, so you’ll need to stay sharp at all times.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Gameplay

In the latest in-engine trailer, we saw several familiar gameplay elements making a return. Snake aims from the tall grass in first-person, wades carefully through marshes past reptiles, finds cover behind trees and ruins, and moves smoothly through a range of actions like crawling, walking, climbing, and crouching. In one short clip, Snake even performs a takedown from behind, and it’s the same maneuver but now with a smoother, more streamlined animation.

It seems the gameplay will stay mostly faithful to the original, though we can expect some tweaks and updates. According to a tweet from the official Metal Gear Solid page, MGS Delta: Snake Eater will be “a faithful recreation of the original story and gameplay, enhanced with stunning visuals and a seamless user experience.” It might get a modern makeover similar to recent Resident Evil remakes, with new camera angles and mechanics to suit today’s standards.

The original game was highly praised for its features at the time, so we’re curious to see how these elements mesh with a modern gaming experience. Mechanics like healing were quite complex back then, requiring lots of menu navigation—whether this will be updated remains unclear. If they do make it smoother, it’ll be a welcome change for both old fans and newcomers.

While there’s still plenty to discover, we’re not completely in the dark. A new showcase revealed two modes: the classic Legacy mode, which offers the original control scheme and camera angle, and a modern mode with an over-the-shoulder third-person view, similar to today’s shooters.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake – Hideo Kojima’s Involvement

When the Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake was announced, fans immediately started wondering if Hideo Kojima, the legendary developer, would be involved. Although Kojima is no longer with Konami and has his own studio, many hoped he might consult on the remake—after all, this is one of his best-known games.

IGN reached out to Konami, and the answer was definitive: “They are not involved.”

So there you have it—Kojima is officially not part of the Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake development.

-Herpai Gergely “BadSector”-