Konami has quietly removed Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker from the PlayStation Store, cutting off digital purchases on PS3, PSP, and Xbox 360 without any advance notice. Players discovered the delistings after the store pages suddenly disappeared, sparking backlash across social media and fan communities.
The PS3 HD version of Peace Walker no longer appears on the PlayStation Store at all, while Metal Gear Solid 4’s 2014 PSN release also vanished overnight. Konami issued no public announcement, leaving many players confused about when—or why—the removal happened.
Existing Owners Keep Access, New Buyers Locked Out
Players who already purchased these titles can still download them from their libraries. However, Konami has completely blocked new purchases, effectively ending digital access on legacy PlayStation hardware.
This move impacts:
- PS3 owners hoping to replay or buy Metal Gear Solid 4
- PSP users looking to purchase Peace Walker digitally
- Xbox 360 players who missed the earlier HD releases
For long-time fans and collectors, the sudden removal raises concerns about continued access to classic Metal Gear Solid games on older consoles.
Master Collection Vol. 2 Likely Behind the Decision
Konami appears to have removed the games ahead of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, which reportedly includes modern ports of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker. While the company has not officially confirmed the reason, the timing strongly suggests preparation for the new collection.
However, the decision has drawn criticism. Master Collection Vol. 2 does not release until August 27, leaving a multi-month gap where fans cannot legally purchase these games digitally on any PlayStation platform.
Many players argue that removing the legacy versions offers little benefit. Few people dust off old consoles to buy decade-old games, and the Master Collection’s stated goal is to improve accessibility on modern hardware.
By delisting early and staying silent, Konami created unnecessary frustration. A clear warning or delayed removal closer to the collection’s launch could have avoided most of the backlash.
