In an interview with 1UP, Ryan Payton cleared up the situation for people who think this is the final Metal Gear game.

Regarding a Metal Gear Solid 5, he said there is “still a lot of room for filling in the gaps as far as Big Boss is concerned.” When asked about the possibilty of the game, he responded, “There are some misunderstandings that this is the final Metal Gear game. But it’s really the final chapter of the Solid Snake story. That’s all.”

He continued on:

“I’m happy we could wrap up Snake’s story in MGS4,” Payton stated earlier in the interview, continuing, “because it gets to the point where if we continue on with Metal Gear Solid 5 with more Solid Snake adventures, we’ll get to the point where the game has absolutely no basis in reality. I do like the idea that this character has had four or five big missions and then that’s when it ended, rather than have 20 missions where there’s no chance in hell a secret agent could ever survive. He’s had four or five really big missions, and that seems a little more realistic to me.”

They are also working on new maps and skills for Metal Gear Online as well.

“We’re working on a handful of new maps, skills, and rules that we’re bug checking at the moment. A lot of the stuff is pretty far along. It’s not going to be too long before people are going to start seeing screenshots of the new stages…. By the time you’re tired of the maps that come in the game, it’ll probably be around the time we’ll be bringing out the new ones.”

[Metal Gear Solid 5 Could Be a Prequel]

If you’re an avid fan of anything and everything Metal Gear Solid, then here is one more piece to add to your collection. It is a Gamestation exclusive MGS4 watch. The watch itself does not show any MGS4 emblems or insignias, but it does say “Metal Gear Solid 4” across the middle. Each watch comes with a gift box and a certificate of authenticity, showing that Hideo Kojima has “approved” it himself.

There is only 500 of these made, so if you are interested you might want to jump on board quickly when they come out in October. The price is £99.99, so start saving those pennies!

[MGS4 Watch]

Thanks to the recently released Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots as well as it’s bundle packaging with the 80GB PLAYSTATION 3, the system hardware has been pushed above Nintendo Wii system hardware sales for the first time since Spring of 2007. The PLAYSTSATION 3 only topped the Wii by 24,000 units, but is still a triumphant week in PLAYSTSATION 3 hardware history sales. See full details at the link below.

[Weekly PS3 Sales Top Weekly Wii Sales for the First Time Since Spring 07']

The Guns of The Patriots: 30 minute cutscenes, and “more then enough to satisfy anything that moves.” Yes folks that was a Revolver Ocelot reference. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a spectacular showcase of what a developer can do on the PLAYSTATION 3.

Hideo Kojima pushed his team, as well as the hardware of the PS3 to the limits. The result? An amazing experience that utilizes the PLAYSTATION 3 hardware to it’s very best, to create some of the best graphics these two eyes have seen, as well as create an action stealth experience felt like no other on the PLAYSTATION 3.

The ideas and story telling of Hideo Kojima wrap up the last saga in the tale of Metal Gear Solid, and with the use of cutscenes that can span anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, the game will definitely take you for a ride. The intervals between gameplay can seem long at times, but the gameplay is very satisfying, and the cutscenes are never anything but great as well. Allow me to break it down step by step. (more »)

Brandon Laurino of Konami Online tells us today that tomorrow, the PLAYSTATION Store will be receiving the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Database.

What this is: “free, downloadable interactive application that contains the official knowledge base of everything that is Metal Gear, reaching all the way back to the very beginning of the franchise. Including complete storylines, character profiles, relationship diagrams, and much more! The MGS4 database is a great way to catch up for someone new to Metal Gear, as well as a useful resource for any veteran of the series, with complete official details on every aspect of the intricate Metal gear lore.”

Top of that, all Metal Gear Solid 4 information is blacked out unless you completed that part of the game and are revealed when you have.

He also reveals that right now, if you check out the EXTRAS option in Metal Gear Solid 4, there is already a free downloadable piece of content containing new camouflage and a new music track for the game’s iPod. He says more is to come as well.

[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Database on the way!]

Research sales data from Enterbrain for Metal Gear Solid 4’s been published. After only its first four day in Japan, the game has sold about 476,334 copies in total. The PS3 MGS4 bundle also helped to push units, driving sales of the console to 77,208 for the week. It looks like MGS4 is well on its way to becoming a best selling title (we never doubted that) and a title that will really help Sony push more units. The data is great and with that only being four days worth and only Japan, we can’t wait to see the sales figures in a month from all the regions to see how well the game really has done.

[MGS4 Pushes Sales]

According the the latest numbers in Japan posted on NeoGAF, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots sold 300,000 copies when it was released yesterday in Japan. Those copies consist of 130,000 normal editions and 170,000 limited editions. I wonder how much the United States and Europe sold.

[NeoGAF] [Image]

If you live near Shibuya’s Tsutaya in Tokyo, Japan, you may notice some major Metal Gear Solid 4 advertising. The area is covered with ads, one the size of a building, one on a truck, and even video presentations of the game in the center of the square. If only we had this type of advertising in the United States. That is something I want to see.

[発売日当日、『MGS4』が渋谷を映像ジャック!? 宣伝車や巨大屋外広告も！]

It doesn’t just let you watch Snake smoke, it seems that it gives you tips too. Some of our favorites include “[Usage Warning] This game is intended for use exclusively with the PLAYSTATION 3 system” and “Be sure to take a 15-minute break every hour.” They worry about our health and the system we are playing on. Oh, Kojima your hilarious. View the gallery of tips at the link.

[MGS4 Installation Gallery]

It’s not just the SIXAXIS making an appearance in Kojima’s upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Along with the iPod, Otacon talking about Blu-ray, a Sony cell phone, the PSP will be in the game as well. Take a look for yourself. Yeah, the best form of advertising, no?

[Sony Plugs Continue, PSP Pops Up In MGS4]

Konami has released the official Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots magazine online for free in celebration of the arrival of the biggest game of 2008.

The magazine shows us key in-game characters, exclusive video footage, Metal Gear Solid history, and more. View it at the link.

[Metal Gear Solid 4 Magazine]

At this moment, some lucky bastards are playing Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in their living room simply because their local game store sold the game early. A Konami spokesperson spoke on this matter:

Unfortunately, these things happen. As much as we like see that no one breaks streets dates, no one can monitor every single moment that a title gets packed up for shipment and when its on its way to the stores… The store could be at fault as well, for letting someone get a copy before the street date.

We haven’t got much longer to wait anyway. It’s only three more days after today.

[Konami Talks MGS4's Early "Release"]

Someone over at NeoGAF has posted the install times for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It seems it will install between chapters. The breakdown below.

8 Minutes = first install, when you start the game.

Then before each act, the time it takes to install is as follows

Act 2 – 3 mins
Act 3 – 3 mins
Act 4 – 2 mins
Act 5 – 1 min

And thanks to GameStop, we know that the total disk space required is 4600MB.

[NeoGAF]

Hideo Kojima really seems to like his PLAYSTATION 3 hardware choice. In a codec call in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Otacon tells Snake that it is time to switch to disc two, but then realizes they are on a PLAYSTATION 3 and there is no need for it since it is a Blu-Ray disc. Nice one Kojima!

At E3 2006, the first sight of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots stunned the world. A new comparison video shows the 2006 video compared to the video this year, 2008. The new video has much more detail, effects, and less piss green. Enjoy!