Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will be temporarily unavailable on digital storefronts due to expiring archival footage licenses. While the publisher looks into renewing the licenses, Konami will temporarily remove the two titles from the PlayStation 3, PS Vita, and PS Now storefronts, as well as on Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, and other platforms. The change will go into effect starting November 8, 2021, and there is currently no confirmed return date.
According to Konami’s official press release, the two games are temporarily removed due to the expiration of a license, specifically for the historical archival footage used in the two games. This temporary removal will apply globally and to all versions of the above two games including the HD editions and HD collections. If you already own any of the digital versions of either game, you will still be able to redownload, but no new purchases will be allowed while they are delisted.
Below is a list of all versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 that will be unavailable during this period:
- PlayStation 3 METAL GEAR SOLID 2 SONS OF LIBERTY HD EDITION
- PlayStation 3 METAL GEAR SOLID 3 SNAKE EATER HD EDITION
- PlayStation 3 METAL GEAR SOLID HD EDITION
- PlayStation Vita METAL GEAR SOLID 2 SONS OF LIBERTY HD EDITION
- PlayStation Vita METAL GEAR SOLID 3 SNAKE EATER HD EDITION
- PlayStation Vita METAL GEAR SOLID HD COLLECTION
- PlayStation Now METAL GEAR SOLID HD COLLECTION
- Xbox 360 METAL GEAR SOLID HD EDITION: 2 & 3
- Nintendo 3DS METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D
- GOG.com METAL GEAR SOLID 2 SUBSTANCE
- NVIDIA SHIELD METAL GEAR SOLID 2 HD for SHIELD TV
- NVIDIA SHIELD METAL GEAR SOLID 3 HD for SHIELD TV
The versions being removed are mostly for older consoles. MGS 2 and 3 haven’t been released on PS4 or PS5 at this point, except via PS Now (though the older Xbox versions are playable on Xbox Series X).Both the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita stores were originally supposed to close this summer. Sony reversed the decision after a public outcry. However, it did recently remove the ability to use PayPal as well as credit and debit cards on the platform. This means that users will have to use either PlayStation Store gift cards or top up on other platforms such as PC, mobile, PS4, or PS5.
It’s unknown when Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 will return to storefronts, but Konami notes that this is a temporary removal. Those who own any version of the two games will still be able to redownload them during this time, however. The removal only impacts new sales of the titles.
[Via: @Nitroid on Twitter]
