Metal Gear Survive

Lore & Background

Metal Gear Survive is set between the events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Following the Ground Zeroes Incident, a soldier who avoided being sucked into a wormhole above Mother Base awakens months later in a Wardenclyffe Section facility. A chief researcher named Goodluck enlists the soldier—dubbed the Captain—to enter a wormhole to a dimension called Dite, where a mysterious virus turns people into crystalline zombie-like creatures called Wanderers. The Captain must find a cure and rescue others transported to Dite.

In Dite, the Captain allies with an XOF soldier named Reeve and an artificial intelligence named Virgil AT-9 from the Charon Corps, a previous investigation team. The story involves a time loop: Dite is revealed to be Earth in the 22nd century, ravaged by a creature called the Lord of Dust, which feeds on Iris energy and creates wormholes to consume matter before traveling back in time to restart the cycle. The Captain and survivors attempt to destroy the Lord of Dust using a Metal Gear, with two possible endings depending on player choice.

The game's reception was mixed upon release, with pre-release reception generally negative due to its design and Konami's business decisions. It was considered to have underperformed commercially within the Metal Gear series.

Reader's Guide

Metal Gear Survive represents a controversial entry in the Metal Gear franchise, being the first game developed without Hideo Kojima's involvement since 1990. Its release followed negative pre-release reception, and critics gave it mixed reviews upon launch. The game's commercial performance was considered underwhelming for the series. Gameplay focuses on survival mechanics including managing thirst, hunger, and injuries, exploring areas covered by a toxic cloud called The Dust that obstructs vision and requires oxygen monitoring. Players gather resources, activate portal generators through tower-defense segments, and craft weapons ranging from melee tools to firearms. A cooperative multiplayer mode allows up to four players to complete missions together. The game features a currency called Kuban Energy earned by killing enemies, used to level up and acquire skills. Base camp management includes building defenses, crafting stations, farms, and sending rescue survivors on exploration teams. Survive Coins can be purchased or earned as in-game rewards for features like resource boosters and additional load-out slots. The game's legacy is tied to its position as a post-Kojima Metal Gear title and its mixed critical and commercial reception.

Did You Know?

• Metal Gear Survive is the first Metal Gear game developed without Hideo Kojima's input since 1990's Snake's Revenge.
• The main enemies are crystalline zombie-like creatures called Wanderers.
• Players can purchase Survive Coins to unlock features such as resource boosters and additional load-out slots.