PC Version Of 'Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain' Out On Same Day As Consoles (Updated)

The PC copy of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain wasn't supposed to arrive until September 15, more than two weeks after the game's initial launch on consoles. That seems to have changed, as Konami announced that it has found a way to make the PC version available on the same day as consoles.

Those who pre-order the game via Steam will get a copy of the game's prequel, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, for free. Additionally, players will own a video showing behind the scenes footage and a "unique documentary," as well as downloadable content in the form of a Venom Snake emblem and additional staff for Mother Base.

With this new release date, there are also updated requirements for PC players, and the game will also support 4K resolutions for players who have money to burn on GPUs and expensive monitors.

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Header Cell - Column 0 MinimumRecommended
Operating SystemWindows 7x64, Windows 8x64 (64-bit OS Required)Windows 7x64, Windows 8x64 (64-bit OS Required)
CPUIntel Core i5-4460 (3.40 GHz) or better; Quad-core or betterIntel Core i7-4790 (3.60 GHz) or better; Quad-core or better
Memory4 GB RAM8 GB RAM
GPUNVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 (2 GB) or better (DirectX 11 card Required)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 (DirectX 11 graphic card required)
DirectXVersion 11Version 11
Storage28 GB available space28 GB available space
Sound CardDirectX 9.0c compatible sound cardDirectX 9.0c compatible sound card (Surround Sound 5.1)

However, there is a downside to the good news. The game's multiplayer counterpart, Metal Gear Online, won't see the light of day for quite some time. For consoles, it won't come out until October 6. PC gamers will have to wait even longer, specifically January 2016.

Regardless, the simultaneous launch on PC, PS4 and Xbox One is a first for the series. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the fifth game in the franchise with a PC version. The first was Metal Gear Solid: Integral an expansion of the first Metal Gear Solid. It was released in 2000, two years after the original game came out on consoles, and one year after Metal Gear Solid: Integral came out in Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty also showed up on the PC in the form of another expanded version called Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, which came out two years after the original game, and one year after the expanded version hit the Xbox and PlayStation 2. The console version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance arrived in February 2013, but the PC version wasn't available until January 2014. The gap was slightly shortened for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, with the PC version arriving on December 2014, only nine months after the game's initial release on consoles.

Update: 8/4/2015, 11: 25 a.m. PDT: We corrected the information regarding the number of Metal Gear Solid titles released for the PC.

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  • skit75
    I think "Required" in the chart should read, "Recommended"
    Reply
  • drtweak
    Ummm no it isn't the 3rd and the 1st isn't the 1st. Metal Gear Solid 2 was the first on PC.
    Reply
  • mkhaos7
    Metal Gear Solid 1 and Metal Gear Solid 2 were both released for PC (thats were I played them). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid#PC_version and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid_2:_Sons_of_Liberty#Substance.
    Reply
  • Supernova1138
    Looks like Konami wants to shove this out the door as fast as possible so they can finally wash their hands of non mobile games and focus more on Pachinko. Hopefully they get it right on launch, because I don't see much in the way of post release support for this one.
    Reply
  • eddnav
    Why the hell does the recommended specs need an i7? does this game uses Hyperthreading of any sort? they recommend a 300$+ processor and a crappy outdated GPU? what's the deal? crappy port confirmed?
    Reply
  • Lmah
    Why the hell does the recommended specs need an i7? does this game uses Hyperthreading of any sort? they recommend a 300$+ processor and a crappy outdated GPU? what's the deal? crappy port confirmed?

    MGSV: Ground Zeroes had the same exact system requirements and it was one of the best ports ever.
    Reply
  • BulkZerker
    "why does a Console port need a beefy cpu and a crappy gpu?"

    because it's using a game engine that has dick all requirements for a gpu
    Reply
  • blppt
    Damn, recommended 4790---well, that means that AMD cpus might really struggle in this game, since a 4790 stomps all over any consumer AMD on the market, including my 9590. Even in highly threaded, ideal situations that no real world game engine will ever achieve.
    Reply
  • alidan
    Why the hell does the recommended specs need an i7? does this game uses Hyperthreading of any sort? they recommend a 300$+ processor and a crappy outdated GPU? what's the deal? crappy port confirmed?

    MGSV: Ground Zeroes had the same exact system requirements and it was one of the best ports ever.

    im running a phenom II and in that with everything maxed besides a few visual settings i don't like, i was getting 40-60fps with the average being 55~ some process kicked in in the background and it brought things to sub 20 till i closed it but that was the only hickup.

    also 280X factory oc to ghz edition speeds.
    Reply
  • ObelixThe
    I am just about to make a major PC purchase. I came across this article while browsing inside tom's hardware. I was decided about the 6700K +GTX970. Should I rather opt for a 5820K and OC it to 4.2+ Ghz ?
    Reply