Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2: Release Date, Games, Price, and Platforms

Konami says the new version has a higher internal resolution, a higher maximum frame rate, and customizable button controls. The publisher has not promised a remake or a full visual rebuild. This is a modern port of the original game, with improvements aimed at making it easier to play on current hardware.

The collection also includes the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, a large reference guide covering characters, events, organizations, weapons, and the series timeline through MGS4.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD

Peace Walker takes place in 1974, ten years after Metal Gear Solid 3. Big Boss leads a private military group in Colombia and is asked to investigate a mysterious armed force operating in Costa Rica.

The version in Vol. 2 is based on the HD Collection release rather than the original PSP edition. It includes customizable controls and restores the game's online modes.

• CO-OPS: Two to four players can complete missions together.
• VERSUS OPS: Competitive matches support up to six players.
• Crossplay: Konami says cross-platform play is not supported.

Peace Walker is built around shorter missions, base growth, staff management, equipment development, and repeated runs. It feels different from MGS4, but its story is a major bridge between Snake Eater and the later Big Boss timeline.

Metal Gear: Ghost Babel

Ghost Babel was originally released for Game Boy Color in 2000. It follows Solid Snake on a mission to the fortified nation of Galuade after a nuclear-equipped Metal Gear is captured.

The game uses a separate continuity, so it is not required reading for the main series. It still has plenty of value as a compact stealth game designed around portable hardware.

This release adds screen filters, a pixel-perfect display option, different screen settings, rewind, and customizable controls. Ghost Babel is included as collection bonus content. Konami has only confirmed MGS4 and Peace Walker as separate digital purchases.

What else is included?

Vol. 2 includes several extras for players who want more context than the games alone provide.

• Metal Gear Solid 4 Screenplay Book: The in-game script in a readable format.
• Metal Gear Solid 4 Master Book: Background material about the story and characters.
• Peace Walker Screenplay Book: A text version of Peace Walker's story.
• Peace Walker Master Book: Additional character and world information.
• Metal Gear Solid 4 Database: A detailed series encyclopedia and timeline.
• Metal Gear Solid Digital Soundtrack Vol. 2: Music from the games, played through the collection's sound player.

The books and database are useful if you are returning after a long break. Metal Gear's story jumps between decades, uses several versions of Snake, and expects players to remember people and events from older games. Having those references in the same package should make the timeline less intimidating.

Price, physical copies, and standalone versions

The Steam version costs $49.99, which is also the announced US price for the complete collection. Store prices can vary by region.

Konami announced both physical and digital preorders. The company specifically lists Xbox Series X|S and Steam as digital-only, which leaves PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 as the physical console options.

MGS4 and Peace Walker will also be available as separate digital purchases. Konami has not listed the individual US prices yet. If you only want one of the two main games, waiting for the standalone listings may make sense. The complete package is the safer choice if you also want Ghost Babel, the soundtrack, the books, and the database.

Preorder bonuses and Vol. 1 save-data rewards

Preordering gives you cosmetic items for both main games:

• MGS4 Cardboard Camouflage for Metal Gear Solid 4
• LOVE BOX uniform for Peace Walker

Owning save data from any game in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 unlocks a different pair of rewards:

• Gold Camouflage for Metal Gear Solid 4
• GOLD uniform for Peace Walker

The Vol. 1 save must be tied to the same account and present on the system used for Vol. 2. Konami says you can still qualify if you start Vol. 2 first and create the Vol. 1 save later.

These are small extras rather than missing story content. You do not need to preorder or own Vol. 1 to play the three included games.

What changed in each version?

The upgrades are not identical across the collection.

MGS4 improvements

• Higher internal resolution
• Higher maximum frame rate
• Customizable button controls

Peace Walker improvements

• Based on the HD Collection version
• Customizable button controls
• Two-to-four-player online co-op
• Competitive online play for up to six players

Ghost Babel improvements

• Screen filters
• Pixel-perfect display
• Adjustable screen settings
• Rewind
• Customizable button controls

Konami has not published a complete platform-by-platform resolution and frame-rate chart. It is better to wait for final testing before assuming every system will run MGS4 at the same settings.

Does MGS4 include Metal Gear Online?

Konami has confirmed online multiplayer for Peace Walker but has not listed Metal Gear Online as part of the MGS4 package. The official game list and feature descriptions focus on MGS4's single-player campaign.

Unless Konami announces a change, buyers should treat Peace Walker as the collection's online game and MGS4 as a single-player release.

Do you need to play Vol. 1 first?

You can launch any game in Vol. 2 without owning the first collection. For the story, however, starting earlier will make MGS4 much easier to follow.

At minimum, play or read summaries for Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3 before MGS4. Peace Walker directly follows the Big Boss side of the timeline after Snake Eater. Ghost Babel stands apart and can be played whenever you want.

Vol. 2 arrives during a busy August. If you are comparing subscriptions and purchases, our PlayStation Plus August 2026 guide lists that month's included games. Konami is also releasing Silent Hill: Townfall in 2026, and our Townfall endings explainer covers how its first playthrough works.

Is Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 worth buying?

The value depends on which part of the package you want most.

For Metal Gear fans, MGS4's first official port is the main reason to buy Vol. 2. The original game has been stuck on PS3 since 2008, and access to it has become increasingly inconvenient. Peace Walker adds a long campaign with co-op, while Ghost Babel gives the collection a smaller game that many players have never tried.

The $49.99 price is easier to justify if you want all three games and the extras. If you only want MGS4, the separate digital version could be cheaper, but Konami has not announced its price. Waiting for final performance reports is also reasonable if resolution and frame rate will decide which platform you buy.

Quick answers

When does Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 release?

It launches on August 27, 2026.

How much does it cost?

The complete collection costs $49.99 in the United States on Steam. Regional and retail prices may differ.

Is Metal Gear Solid 4 finally coming to PC and Xbox?

Yes. MGS4 is coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. This is its first official release outside the PS3.

Does Peace Walker have multiplayer?

Yes. Co-op supports two to four players, while competitive VERSUS OPS supports up to six. Crossplay is not supported.

Is Ghost Babel sold separately?

Konami describes Ghost Babel as collection bonus content. It has not announced a separate version.

Is there a physical edition?

Yes. Konami announced physical and digital versions. Xbox Series X|S and Steam are digital-only, while physical console versions are available for PS5 and Nintendo Switch systems.