GDC: Kojima confirms "the next MGS"

By Oli Welsh Published 26 March, 2009

To combine Japanese and Western design.

At his keynote speech at the Game Developers Conference today, Hideo Kojima as good as confirmed that another Metal Gear Solid game is in development.

Having taken us through all the design hurdles, or "missions" he's overcome in the history of the Metal Gear series, he concluded the talk by presenting the final mission: "The Next MGS."

He said he wanted to tackle this mission using a combination of Japanese and Western development philosophies. He described his approach, the typical Japanese approach, as being design-led, while he identified the recent trend in Western game development as being led by software technology, particularly the freedom of open-world games.

He invited developers in the audience to challenge his "old-style" approach by coming and talking to Kojima Productions, and perhaps working there. The studio's hiring at the show.

It doesn't quite amount to a formal announcement of a new Metal Gear Solid, and it was met with a muted reception at the keynote. Perhaps this was because the audience wasn't sure if Kojima was joking (it was a light-hearted talk), or perhaps because it's no great surprise.

Is this what we can expect to see from Kojima at this year's E3? We can't be sure.

More pearls of wisdom from the great man, and an inadequate description of the most sophisticated Powerpoint presentation we've ever seen, in our the full live report of the keynote.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • Cyclone #1 3 years ago

    Not too unexpected, but great news none the less. An MGS game with a GTA-style open world; now that would be an interesting game. I suppose the easiest and most basic way to do an open world in an MGS game would be to take a level, such as the Middle Eastern first level in MGS4, expand it, and make it less linear. While they might do just that, I can't see Kojima Productions not exploiting the concept further, and coming up with something a little more innovative.
    Edited by 1 at 26/03/09 @ 19:44

  • GamesConnoisseur #2 3 years ago

    Sony will certainly wants to keep the next MSG a PS3 exclusive, wondering if Konami will do this or follow the attraction of getting a double dosing of gamers money by making it multi platform one?

  • Eraysor #3 3 years ago

    I would normally say I hope they make a 360 version, but my console fried itself earlier this evening so MGS can stick to the PS3 for the time being!

  • R.P_McMurphy #4 3 years ago

    Hooray. Roll on 2015.

  • gareth886 #5 3 years ago

    Another MGS? Meh. Why not bring us a new series?

  • Sevens #6 3 years ago

    "MGS game with a GTA-style open world; now that would be an interesting game."

    Yeah, horribly interesting. Correction, interestingly horrible.

  • Bitkari #7 3 years ago

    He described his approach, the typical Japanese approach, as being design-led

    Really? Design-led?

    I've always felt that MGS has always been more narrative-led than anything else.

    The design seems rooted in some decade-old school of game design - purposely stagnating into familiar systems, rather than progressing onward to make the game more fun to play.

    I'd counter that it's the Western approach to really innovate and drive things forward, especially from a design point of view. While a lot of people might (correctly) assume that there's a lot of stagnant thought in Western game designs, I'd suggest playing a game from 10 years ago, and notice how many things really have changed over the years.

    Then, go play MGS2.

  • coolbritannia #8 3 years ago

    Bitkari, QFT matey. MGS has hardly progressed from the 1st iteration on the Playstation...

  • djed #9 3 years ago

    @Bitkari & coolbritannia

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're both westerners, right? Then naturally you won't be able to see the amazing design-led innovation the MGS-series has gone through, considering you're stuck in an enabled-by-software point of view, and not a design-led one like the Japanese.

    Ask me not to point out any of these innovations though, as I'm a westerner myself.

  • Tyranix #10 3 years ago

    I took it as meaning he would be creating another phenomenon like Metal Gear Solid. For example, "This game will be THE next Metal Gear Solid! It will surpass it in every way etc etc." I hope i'm wrong.

  • morriss #11 3 years ago

    He really didn't confirm it, I'm afraid.

  • stripelord #12 3 years ago

    oh christ, won't someone put this franchise to bed already.

  • JayeM #13 3 years ago

    What's with the "let's hate everything that is popular thing" going on accross the internet.

    If I believed what I read, Halo, Metal Gear Solid and Grand Theft Auto, possibly the biggest 3 games in console history are awful.

  • Goodfella #14 3 years ago

    It's a strange phenomena, JayeM, one I don't think will ever be solved.

  • spitfire1945 #15 3 years ago

    MGS? Baybe he meant MG, as Solid should be dead or retired!!!

    OH, and by the way, I think he's addressing to a whole different thing that should be as big as MGS but hasn't anything to do with it!
    Edited by 1 at 27/03/09 @ 08:26

  • JahB #16 3 years ago

    OH, and by the way, I think he's addressing to a whole different thing that should be as big as MGS but hasn't anything to do with it!

    no chance. watch him announce mgs5 at e3, and when it comes out, he'll say it's the last mgs. then he'll say it's the last mgs he ever worked on. and then he'll confirm mgs6.

  • BOBBYLUPO #17 3 years ago

    Translation: an open world with huge robots.

    The best levels in MG4 (IMO) were the first two, which kind of let you make your own way through, so I think this is the natural progression. His real challenge will be to make an interesting protagonist - you can't have Snake again, and no-one wants girly man Raiden...do they?





  • retr0gamer #18 3 years ago

    I just hope they make a good game this time.

  • Connobi #19 3 years ago

    Another MGS? Oh great. Lets guess how this will go. Sony make another console & generate hype off amazing/curious cutscenes from the new MGS game. The console will launch & then 2 years or so later, the actual MGS game will come out, & be some over drawn out, makes no sense, interactive movie. Don't believe me? History has a way of repeating itself (see PS2, MGS2, PS3, MGS4). You know I'm right.

  • Dark_Wolf_1991 #20 3 years ago

    Hmm in a way thats good and bad news. I have always been a fan of the MGS franchise and I still own every single MGS there is. MGS1 was epic, MGS2 was good but why bring in raiden, MGS3 was just fucking awesome, MGS4 had a bad ass story line and so clever written.

    But isnt snake now "dead" or "retired" Im sure kojima can think of someway to bring back snake or even do another MGS game based on Big Boss?