14 DAY TRIAL // What we know: Developer Hideo Kojima has changed his mind about what kind of game Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is quite a few times already, but at the moment, we are sure that the game will arrive on the PlayStation 4, the PS3, the Xbox One and the Xbox 360 in the first half of the year.
The game will be set in 1975, months after the events of Peace Walker and gamers will have to deal with a new threat as Big Boss, working with a cast of familiar characters.
Kojima wants to remove some of the restrictions that have characterized the series and missions can be played in any order while still offering a clear narrative for fans.
A day-night cycle is being implemented and the entire experience is powered by the new Fox Engine, which means more control over character actions and improved sneaking techniques.
Ground Zeroes will set up all the core narrative moments that will define the world of The Phantom Pain, the second half of the tenth full entry in the Metal Gear Solid series, and will allow newcomers to get the info they need to play it.
Why it matters: Ground Zeroes is a small, self-contained adventure that will pave the way towards the next big Metal Gear Solid event.
The main risk is that the split into two titles will antagonize long-time fans while failing to bring any newcomers to the series, which has a reputation for being convoluted and opaque.
If Ground Zeroes is a successful release, on the other hand, Kojima and his successors might be able to turn Metal Gear Solid into a more episodic-driven series, launching titles with increased frequency and creating links between various sections of the world’s history.
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