While each entry Metal Gear Solid franchise revolutionized the genre, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater aims to bring back the original experience as accurately as possible. The original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is by far one of the best entries in the series, offering the same climactic self-contained story with innovative gameplay mechanics that still stand out today. Despite Metal Gear Solid 3‘s overall level of quality, its dated control and visuals can still make it challenging to revisit, especially for modern audiences.

With Metal Gear Solid Delta offering a one-to-one recreation of the original game built from the ground up in a new engine, it’s the perfect way to entice new fans to the iconic sneaking series. Even though Metal Gear Solid 3 already had an HD remake, which made it drastically more accessible,Delta‘s remastered visuals and gameplay could make it a definitive way to experience Big Boss’ origin story. Solid Delta: Snake Eater releases in the summer this year, there isn’t much of a wait left for the highly-anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta, although its promotional material seems to be missing one beloved feature.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Doesn’t Seem To Include Metal Gear Online

Disappointing News For Fans Of The Original Metal Gear Online

While there have been rumors that Konami is including some form of online connectivity in Metal Gear Solid Delta based on previous interviews and its online ESRB rating, it doesn’t seem like Metal Gear Online will be returning anytime soon. Ever since Metal Gear Solid Delta‘s official release date trailer was shown at Sony’s State of Play, Konami has not mentioned multiplayer gameplay or any of Metal Gear Solid Delta‘s store pages. While the news isn’t too surprising, it’s still somewhat disappointing, given how beloved the Metal Gear Online experience was at the peak of its popularity.

There was still hope that Metal Gear Online would also make its way to the remake.

Given how much of the original Metal Gear Solid 3 was being ported over from its Ape Escape collaboration to the return of the original cast, there was still hope that Metal Gear Online would make its way to the remake as well. Even though the Metal Gear franchise has never really been known for its multiplayer, Metal Gear Online was still an enjoyable experience that made for an incredibly worthwhile addition in each entry following Metal Gear Solid 3.

What Did Metal Gear Solid 3’s Multiplayer Look Like?

A Surprisingly Unique Take On Classic PvP Modes

Released on the second disc of the re-release Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, the original Metal Gear Online pitted players against each other in five separate game modes that could fit up to eight players in a single match. While Metal Gear Online had the standard Team Deathmatch and Capture The Flag players might expect, it offered a unique take on the genre.

Like Battlefront’s hero system, the players with the highest score on each team will transform into one of five heroes from the story in the next round. Each of these characters offers unique and powerful abilities compared to each other, from powerful stat improvements to new combat abilities and even new sneaking techniques.

The unique characters playable in Metal Gear Online range from Naked Snake, Ocelot, Raikov, and Sokolov, as well as two variations of Reiko Hinomoto from the Rumble Roses wrestling game as part of a crossover collaboration.

On top of the standard offering of modes, Metal Gear Online even included a sneaking mode where a single player takes on a lobby of seven others playing as guards. Snake’s role was to secure a microfilm hidden in a heavily fortified base while using invisible camouflage and other tools to outmaneuver his overwhelming opponents.

While Metal Gear Solid 3 isn’t remembered for its multiplayer, Metal Gear Online was a surprisingly fun addition that’s still fondly remembered to this day, featuring gameplay mechanics that were surprisingly ahead of its time. While Metal Gear Online isn’t the only aspect that might be removed from Delta, that doesn’t mean there’s no hope for its return.

There’s Still A Solid Chance For A Multiplayer Return In The Future

Konami Might Be Holding Back A Surprise For Long-Time Fans

Although there’s little evidence that Metal Gear Solid Delta will be released with a multiplayer mode, the developers haven’t denied its inclusion when asked about it in the past. Giving vague responses and telling fans to keep an eye out for future announcements isn’t a far stretch to believe that Konami may be saving Metal Gear Online for a future update or paid expansion. With Konami stating they want to familiarize a new generation of players with the Metal Gear franchise, multiplayer seems like a perfect selling point for younger audiences.

Even the original Metal Gear Online was only included two years after Metal Gear Solid 3 with its Subsistence re-release, making Konami’s addition of multiplayer to Metal Gear Solid Delta in the form of a free update or paid expansion even more accurate to the original experience. Given how lucrative live-service multiplayer games are with their use of paid cosmetics and expansion packs, it would be more of a surprise if Konami didn’t take advantage of the remake’s success by re-releasing an updated Metal Gear Online, benefitting greatly from Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater‘s drastically improved camera and controls.