Though a full international reveal was scheduled for tomorrow, March 4, one eagle-eyed NeoGaf user known as Nibel has gotten the jump on Kojima Productions by revealing the release date of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to be September 1, 2015.
The announcement was leaked ahead of time through a video, which has since been pulled. In it, series director Hideo Kojima discussed the upcoming sequel, how it will feature a more reticent Snake — in the vein of Mad Max’s silent protagonist, apparently — and why the fifth numerical entry into the stealth series may serve as his swan song.
“I always say this will be my last Metal Gear, but the games in the series that I’ve personally produced – Metal on MSX, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, 3, 4 and Peace Walker – and now Metal Gear Solid 5 constitute a single Metal Gear saga,” Kojima says. “With Metal Gear Solid 5 I’m finally closing the loop on that saga. In that sense, this will be the final Metal Gear Solid. To me, this is the last Metal Gear.”
Alas, much like the great developer alluded to in the interview, Kojima has been known to hint at the possibility of leaving the franchise behind in the past. Thankfully for fans, however, Metal Gear Solid will still have a future even if the director chooses to part ways with Snake and Co.
Despite today’s untimely reveal, it’s likely that we’ll find out Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain‘s release window for certain tomorrow. Though all signs are currently pointing at a September 1 launch date.