Konami have confirmed that Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes will act as a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and it will be released in Spring 2014 across current and next generation systems.

Hideo Kojima explained its link to MGS 5: The Phantom Pain by stating: “The advanced capabilities of the FOX Engine have allowed me to tell the new story in a new way. There will be a significant difference in what Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain brings to the series, so we want to ease players into the new open world environment and its potential. As such, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes has been designed to introduce key elements, allowing them to fully benefit from all that the new game will offer.”

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes will be releasing on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The boxed PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions will retail at £29.99, while the digital versions will retail for £19.99. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One digital versions will retail for £29.99.

Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes will see Big Boss carrying out a rescue mission in a Cuban prison camp and will ultimately bridge into the events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.  This announcement should sort of confirm that fans should not expect The Phantom Pain until late 2015.

Update: North American prices announced. The boxed PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions will retail at $29.99, while the digital versions will retail for $19.99. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One digital versions will retail for $29.99.

Source: Press Release