Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Turns 10 – A Decade Since Hideo Kojima’s Final Masterpiece

On September 1, 2015, Konami released Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, marking a pivotal moment in both the stealth-action genre and the legacy of influential game designer Hideo Kojima.

Ten years later, the game remains a seminal entry, celebrated for its open-world gameplay, innovative mechanics, and the dramatic circumstances that surrounded its launch.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the fifth mainline title in the acclaimed Metal Gear series, a franchise that has consistently pushed the envelope for narrative complexity and tactical gameplay since its inception.

The game follows Punished "Venom" Snake, set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1984 in both Afghanistan and the Angola–Zaire border region.

Building upon the prologue release, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014), The Phantom Pain offered players an unprecedented degree of freedom, with expansive environments and dynamic mission structures that were a departure from the more linear design of past installments. Upon release, The Phantom Pain garnered universal acclaim from critics and players alike, with many praising its ambitious scope, intricate systems, and emotional storytelling.

The title quickly achieved significant commercial success, further cementing its place in gaming history.

However, its arrival was overshadowed by well-publicized turbulence between Kojima and Konami.

In a highly publicized move, Konami opted to remove Kojima’s name from the game’s cover art, reflecting a fractured relationship that ultimately led to his departure from the company he had partnered with for decades. This historical milestone marks Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain as the final mainline Metal Gear Solid title to feature Hideo Kojima’s creative direction.

Following his exit from Konami, Kojima founded his own studio, Kojima Productions, where he developed the critically acclaimed Death Stranding (2019) and its upcoming sequel, Death Stranding 2.

He continued to collaborate with several former Metal Gear contributors, including renowned voice actor Troy Baker and legendary artist Yoji Shinkawa. Konami, meanwhile, has sought to keep the Metal Gear legacy alive with remasters for modern hardware, such as Metal Gear Solid 3, giving new audiences the opportunity to experience the series’ rich history, including on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and the eShop.

Notably, David Hayter, the longtime voice of Snake, was replaced by Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland for both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.

Recently, Hayter expressed that he has moved past the controversial casting decision, highlighting the enduring bonds that the Metal Gear Solid community shares, both among its cast and with its global fanbase. As Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain celebrates a decade since its impactful release, its technical innovations, narrative depth, and the saga of its development continue to inspire and inform the gaming industry.

The game’s enduring popularity on various platforms underscores its significance as a cultural and creative touchstone—a fitting legacy for Hideo Kojima’s final bow in the Metal Gear universe.

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