Kotaro Oki, the creative director on Metal Gear Online, has revealed new details behind the multiplayer component integrated in Hideo Kojima’s eagerly awaited Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Speaking to 4Gamer (translated via Junker HQ user Marc), Oki suggested that Metal Gear Online might not launch at the same time as The Phantom Pain — similar to how Grand Theft Auto Online’s servers went live two weeks after the initial release of 2013’s Grand Theft Auto V.
Meanwhile, Kojima Productions’ LA-based studio is currently in the process of deciding how many players can feature in a single competitive matchup (aiming between 12 to 16 people at the moment), as the developers believe that the team-based atmosphere will suffer if it’s crammed with too many users.
Just as The Phantom Pain utilises an ever-changing weather mechanic in the open-world title, this feature will also be implemented in Metal Gear Online, but Oki said that the day and night cycles won’t affect matches due to them not lasting long.
Other features and mechanics revealed by Kotaro Oki are listed below:
— Communications methods include the popular preset radio messages from before.
— MGSV’s marking system replaces the SOP system. When you mark players through your binoculars or other methods, the information is shared with your teammates. Like in MGSV, intel is one of the keys to victory.
–The action will not take place in an open world but in self-contained maps. This is to keep the game fast paced and to be able to have various areas, terrain, and climates.
— There will be a variety of different rules, from common rules to quite unique rules. For instance, Team Sneaking is back, with the attacking team equipped with nonlethal weapons and stealth camo, and the defending team with lethal weapons.
— They plan to include the selfie ability seen in the trailer in the final game as a camera feature.
— Even beginners who aren’t good at shooting will be able to contribute to their team. There will be various teamwork scenarios where such players can help advanced players. For instance, a beginner could stay back and use their binoculars to mark enemies for advanced players up front.
— There was a question about whether a player’s results in MGO will affect MGSV, like being able to carry over items or weapons, or is each game totally standalone. The answer was MGSV will affect MGO (and vice versa) with regard to some elements, but elements involving game balance are separate, to avoid forcing players to have to play through MGSV to succeed in MGO.
Since its world premiere was showcased at The Game Awards earlier this month, publisher Konami confirmed that Metal Gear Online would be bundled with The Phantom Pain.
Rumours have also surfaced that Metal Gear Online may receive a beta sometime in 2015, as Hideo Kojima tweeted an image of MGO running on the PlayStation 4’s dashboard.
Running on Kojima Productions’ Fox Engine, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is rumoured to launch in Q2 of 2015 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.