Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Konami says ‘Metal Gear Solid V’ nuclear event was triggered by mistake

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | Nuclear Disarmament
Former Konami game director Hideo Kojima doesn’t like nuclear weapons. His entire Metal Gear Solid series largely centered on the concept of nuclear war and the dangers of nations proliferating weapons, and in Metal Gear Solid V, Kojima Productions even included a secret cutscene only available after destroying all nuclear weapons on a single gaming platform. That didn’t happen, but according to Konami, the event was unlocked by accident.

On Twitter, the official Metal Gear account said that on Friday, February 2, the Steam version of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain released the cinematic even though there were still nuclear weapons being wielded by its players.

“We will share more information as soon as possible, but you can play the game normally and other platforms have not been affected,” the page continued.

Though PC players would be the most likely to communicate and coordinate a decision of this scale, it would be almost impossible for something like this to happen on Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

The nuclear weapons are in the game as a form of deterrence against attacks from other players, creating a virtual version of the “mutually assured destruction” concept that is largely accepted in international politics today. It was also shared by the game’s main villain, Skull Face, who believed that the proliferation of nuclear weapons among all countries would effectively end war.

Kojima has made his opposition to nuclear weapons and missile defense shields clear in his work. In Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the Metal Gear RAY model was designed specifically to counter the nuclear-armed Metal Gear REX model, which could have rendered it all but useless and increased the chance of the RAY-enabled country launching an attack of its own. It’s a terrifying concept that the United States itself flirted with during the Reagan administration and its “Star Wars” Strategic Defense Initiative program. The Trump administration has recently indicated it wishes to increase spending on missile defense once again.

If players are eventually able to agree to destroy their nuclear weapons and create a peaceful world in Metal Gear Solid V, it would represent a level of cooperation we have never seen in the real world. Until then, we will all likely keep stockpiling our missiles.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Spider-Man 2 preload guide: release time, file size, and preorder
Peter and Miles leaping in the air in the city.

Peter and Miles are all suited up and ready to take on Kraven, Venom, and any other villains that threaten the new and improved New York when Spider-Man 2 arrives on October 20. This PS5 exclusive is shaping up to be one of the fall's biggest titles, which is saying something considering the competition. Still, everyone is waiting to finally feel that sensation of swinging through the buildings once again, and the wait is finally almost over. Even though the game will let you fast travel and switch between characters instantly, downloading the game itself is another story. We'll help you swing right into the game by sharing all the preload information you need on Spider-Man 2.
Spider-Man 2 release time

There's no concrete time for when Spider-Man 2 will unlock as of yet, but it could possibly be 12 a.m. PT or ET on October 20. Once Insomniac or Sony clarifies the specific launch time for the game, we will update this article.
Spider-Man 2 file size
Spider-Man 2 will take up a good chunk of your storage space at 98BG in size. If you need to make some room, do so now.
Spider-Man 2 preload options

Read more
Is Lords of the Fallen cross-platform?
A knight with a large sword prepares to stab a dragon in Lords of the Fallen.

If there's one thing you can count on in nearly any Soulslike game, it's that you're going to face some hefty challenges along your journey. That rings as true as ever in Lords of the Fallen, which tasks you with exploring treacherous locales and facing off against horrifying and deadly creatures around every corner. As such, you may find yourself wanting to bring a friend along for some cooperative play, and you can do exactly that by simply inviting them to your world, where they can stay for as long as they'd like. However, if you're wondering what options you have available if your friend is playing on another platform, we'll tell you whether Lords of the Fallen has crossplay below.
Is Lords of the Fallen cross-platform?

The quick and easy answer to whether Lords of the Fallen has crossplay is yes, it features crossplay. However, this only works between PC and each console individually, meaning that PS5 and Xbox players can't connect with one another. For those on either platform looking to connect with PC players, though, you can freely invite someone for co-op (or invade them for PVP) with no issues whatsoever.

Read more
All upcoming Nintendo Switch games: 2023, 2024, and beyond
Princess Peach in Super Mario RPG.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports of games that are also available on other platforms.

There are also lots of games to look forward to on the platform. These are the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2023 and beyond. Of course, some titles without release windows could skip the Switch entirely and wind up on Nintendo's next-gen console.
Upcoming Switch games 2023
The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit this year. Anything that's up in the air due to more vague launch predictions or previous delays will be listed below confirmed launches.

Read more