It’s been a long-time coming, but we’re on the cusp of the first Metal Gear Solid game in a decade. Concerns are dwindling as more information gets released: Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is looking like a faithful, almost puristic, remake of an undeniable classic. There’s plenty coming to please Metal Gear fans and newcomers alike, so tune your codecs and lock-in: here’re 15 things to know before you pull the trigger on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
Story
A stone cold, Cold War-era classic. It’s befitting of Konami to remake Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater first even though it’s the third mainline entry in Hideo Kojima’s storied stealth action series as chronologically it’s the earliest in the franchise. The story takes place in 1964, presenting an alternate take on the world-defining, real-life geopolitical tension between the United States and USSR. Moreover, Metal Gear Solid Delta is an origin story for the series, establishing Big Boss’ overarching narrative arc whilst serving as a prequel for later events.
Setting, and what’s at stake
Dispatched by the US Government, CIA operative Naked Snake infiltrates Tselinoyarsk in the Soviet Union on a mission to extract Soviet scientist-turned-defector Nikolai Solokov who is being forced to develop a nuclear-equipped tank, the Shagohod. Accompanied by Major Zero, Para-Medic, and Snake’s former mentor The Boss, the operation goes awry when The Boss betrays the US, recaptures Solokov with the aid of her Cobra Unit, and leaves Naked Snake for dead. The Shagohod is captured by nefarious hands and its testing facilities are destroyed; the USSR accuses the US, and the US peddles its innocence. Global nuclear crisis ensues. Naked Snake, surviving The Boss’ betrayal, is redeployed. His mission, destroy the Shagohod and kill her mentor: The Boss. Man, you are in for a pure roller coaster of a ride.
Antagonist characters
Re-capturing Solokov are the USSR’s intelligence agency the GRU, led by Colonel Volgin. Codenamed ‘Thunderbolt’, the immensely strong Volgin is an electricity-conducting sadist, and Delta’s primary antagonist. Young Spetznatz operative Ocelot is commander of the GRU’s Ocelot Unit. A specialist marksman, Ocelot’s antagonistic foundation belies his ambition.
The Cobra Unit are an intriguing band of elite soldiers, each characterised by specific emotions associated with battle and each harbouring distinct capabilities. The Pain commands hornet swarms; The Fear carries two crossbows, lays traps, and sneaks with superhuman speed; The Sorrow communicates with the dead; cosmonaut suit wearing The Fury blasts a flamethrower. Legendary centurion sniper The End signifies ‘true oblivion’; an expert in camouflage with a parrot as a spotter. The Boss controls them all and will be your litmus test as to where your loyalty lies.
Survival elements
Compared to Metal Gear’s other entries, Metal Gear Solid Delta is unique in that its locations are predominantly jungle. As such, Snake must deploy guerilla warfare tactics to survive. Donning camo to blend in and utilising both flora and fauna to distract or divert enemies; the jungle is hostile, and Snake knows how to use it to his advantage. Survival mechanics must be managed; Snake’s hunger can be satisfied, his wounds tended to. It’s a Metal Gear game, sure but a drastically different compared to other heavy hitters in the series.
Secret Theater mode
By retrieving 8mm film rolls carried by enemies, Snake can unlock Metal Gear Solid Delta’s Secret Theater mode. Showcasing humorous outtakes from some of the game’s cutscenes, Delta combines both Metal Gear Solid 3’s original Secret Theater videos – in original PS2-era graphics – with brand new clips. MGS3 videos are kept in their original graphics as their jokes work better, that’s according to Konami’s cutscene developer.
In the latest Metal Gear – Production Hotline, creative producer Yuji Korekado revealed that it was the cutscene director’s idea. “The culprit behind the original videos is still with us and is actually now the cutscene director on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. It’s his opinion that the gags are better with the original graphics. He figured that if we were going to use the new graphics, we should just make new videos, even if it meant we only got a few. So, we kept the existing scenes as is and made some new ones in the new graphics.”
Fox Hunt
Set within Metal Gear Solid Delta’s game world is the all-new online game mode Fox Hunt, a completely original multiplayer experience distinct from Metal Gear Online. Fox Hunt focuses on hide-and-seek gameplay, demanding players utilise their subterfuge and survival skills in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse between two opposing teams. Whether Metal Gear Online will return is something that remains to be seen but given that a separate online mode is already confirmed, it’s best to keep expectations in check.
Seamless gameplay-to-cutscene
Undeniable is Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater looks phenomenal. The team’s utilisation of Unreal Engine 5 has birthed jungles, swamps, and foliage with newfound intricacy and detail. However, using cutting-edge tech to sharpen what was already there is one thing, building something newly immersive – such as the improved cutscene-to-gameplay transitions – are another. Case in point: Snake retrieving his hanging backpack, as seen in one of Konami’s ‘Metal Gear – Production Hotline’ showcases. In the original game, Snake collects his pack, drops from the tree, and trots to cover in a computer-controlled gameplay sequence. In Delta, the scene showcases newfound dynamism. As Snake drops from the tree the game transitions seamlessly into a cutscene.
Cutscenes can be paused
It isn’t just a graphical overhaul welcoming Delta players, but quality-of-life improvements too. Perhaps most welcome though is the all-new ability to pause the game’s cutscenes which, during the game’s sure-to-be lengthy diversions of dialogue and action, will be a godsend for those needing to get away from the screen.
New game selection
Long-time fans of the series will be pleased by Delta including the option to select a favourite Metal Gear title when starting a new game. Back in original Snake Eater’s day, options were limited to 1, 2 or, in expansion Subsistence’s case, 3, with the choice unlocking specific bonuses and Easter eggs. But now, players can skew their preference for Peace Walker, The Phantom Pain, even all MGS games, with specific DPM, banana, or grenade camouflage amongst other bonuses unlocking. If it’s a player’s first Metal Gear game, there’s an option for that too with all three of those aforesaid camos unlocking.
Photo mode
Also confirmed is the inclusion of a new photo mode which, as is commonplace amongst all in-game photography, will give players opportunity to capture their favourite moments before tailoring with adjustable camera settings: focal points, perspectives, apertures, focus, and the like. Frames and filters will customise images further before the chance to share with friends.
Ape Escape and Bomberman side games
PlayStation 5 and PC players will get to enjoy a spot of monkeying around in Metal Gear Solid Delta’s Snake vs Monkey side game; tactical espionage Ape Escape action as the eponymous primates taunt Snake whilst he chases them around the map. Seeing as Ape Escape is a Sony property, and Konami doesn’t appear to want Xbox players to miss out they’ll instead get their own specific side game instead: Snake vs Bomberman.
Graphic modes
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will offer players two graphic modes: Quality and Performance. The former targets fidelity for framerate, in this case 4K resolution at 30 fps. Performance mode aims for 60 fps albeit at 1080p, although reportedly it can dynamically scale higher.
PS5 Pro-specific enhancements
Confirmed all the way back in September 2024, first after appearing in Sony’s State of Play then via Konami themselves, Metal Gear Solid Delta players on PS5 Pro will benefit from that console’s boost in power. Indeed, Delta’s Creative Producer Yuji Korekado states, thanks to the Pro’s PSSR tech, that the game’s jungle will appear denser and more vivid, with smoother gameplay and better framerates a constant throughout. We will hopefully more details on the PS5 Pro support but one thing is for sure, it is going to look stunning.
PC requirements
As per Delta’s Steam page, the minimum PC requirements consist of an Intel i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, RTX 2060 Super (8GB) GPU, and 16GB RAM. Recommended spec however includes Intel i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processors, an RTX 3080 GPU, and the same 16GB RAM. A colossal 100GB storage space is also required.
The Sneaking DLC Pack
Comprising the Sneaking DLC Pack is a suite of special stealth gear for Snake: new uniforms, faces, and equipment which is available within the game’s Tactical and Digital Deluxe Editions as well as purchasable separately. Specifically included are glasses and sunglasses, the GA-KO and Kerotan masks, and six uniforms: Battle Dress, Sneaking Suit, two Naked uniforms – dubbed Woodland and Ammunition Belt – a gold suit and the Crocodile Suit which, as we’ve seen on Konami’s social media channels, blends Snake in with the swamp’s crocs, one-upping original MGS3’s crocodile headdress.