Kojima Talks Metal Gear Solid 5’s Open World, and What it Means

With Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Hideo Kojima is taking some incredibly ambitious steps for the stealth action game. Chief among the new features to set this sequel apart is the open world, which presents a whole new way to sneak around as Snake.

Kojima talked at length about MGS5 with Famitsu (translated by Siliconera), and how this fifth game proper would be different from everything else in the series. “When it comes to realistic linear-styled FPS games, the game designers set up a rail which the players travel along," Kojima said. "It’s similar to those haunted house attractions, where if you step somewhere, there will be an explosion or some sort of hole. That’s fun in it’s own way, but it’s not where a game’s true strength lies. If there are one million players, then having one million different ways to play, is the game’s strength.”

When asked about the E3 gameplay demo, where Snake used a horse for stealth, Kojima offered there would be plenty of instances like that in the game. “There will be a lot more," Kojima said. "Also, the focus in the latest trailer was the carrier truck-riding scene. If it were a linear game, after getting on a cargo truck at a specific location, I believe that it would be followed by a cut-scene that takes you to another area. However, Metal Gear Solid 5 is open-world, so you’ll get to jump off anywhere you’d like. As I’ve previously mentioned, it will be a realistic infiltration."

He also talked about how the multiplayer will be included, but wouldn't be a primary focus of the upcoming sequel. Kojima claimed he was more interested in other ways to interact socially, such as posting your best times for completing a mission online.

Whatever Kojima has in store, we're sure it will be in the best interests of the franchise. It's just too bad we have no idea when we'll be able to enjoy Metal Gear Solid 5.