Metal Gear Online confirmed News

Konami has unveiled an online Metal Gear Solid title for PlayStation 3 at a media briefing in Japan.

Metal Gear Online will see up to 16 players sneaking around new environments in game modes not previously seen in the likes of MGS3: Subsistence.

The official website shows off a selection of screenshots.

(Update - and here's a bit more on it from Konami's subsequent press release: "The new game showcases the all-new proprietary SOP system: a cornerstone gameplay mechanic that encourages players to link together with team-mates' nanomachines to build a matrix of real-time information that includes compatriots' whereabouts, battle condition, and location of nearest enemy.")

Konami also said that a closed beta test would commence on 20th August and end on 3rd September, with 3,000 players set to get a look in. It's not clear if it's Japanese-only, so keep an eye on the Kojima Productions website for more.

Kotaku, live-blogging the event, said that no release date had been offered.

Series creator Hideo Kojima has previously hinted at the existence of an online Metal Gear for PS3, although it was never made clear whether to expect it as part of Metal Gear Solid 4 or separately. Until now, anyway.

Elsewhere at the Metal Gear event - celebrating the series' 20th anniversary - Konami unveiled Metal Gear Solid 2 Bande Dessinee, a new digital comic for PSP.