Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is official

The fifth Metal Gear Solid was outed today by publisher Konami at the GDC event in San Francisco. So what is The Phantom Pain and what’s MGSV’s relation to Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes?

“Following the success of METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS, we have extremely high expectations for METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN,” said Tomoyuki Tsuboi, President of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “We hope to expand and revolutionize the METAL GEAR SOLID franchise utilizing the FOX Engine, while providing fans the high-quality and immersive experience they have come to expect from Kojima Productions.”

Konami was its usual coy self as to how the previously shown off Ground Zeroes will be linked to The Phantom Pain, but the trailer shown at GDC did have some pretty solid (ahem) clues. The video showed the “fall of Mother Base and provides visual hints that unveil the connection between METAL GEAR SOLID: GROUND ZEROES and METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN.” It also looks like there are some very familiar faces present and accounted for that should jump out at Metal Gear Solid fans. That said, series creator Hideo Kojima certainly isn’t going to spill the beans just yet in any definitive way, so you’ll just have to stay tuned…

In any event, check out metalgearsolid.com for more and keep checking back right here for additional info as it becomes available. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has been announced (officially) for the Xbox 360 and the PS3. There’s been no release date announced.