‘Metal Gear Solid 5: The Definitive Experience’ Release Date Announced By Konami

The bundle pack version of the collective titles of "Metal Gear Solid V" has finally been announced by Konami; dubbed "Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience," the collected version of Hideo Kojima's last work in the "Metal Gear" franchise includes everything previously released and will retail at almost full price.

The first signs of Konami's plan to release a bundle pack of the "Metal Gear Solid V" titles showed up earlier this month when certain online distributors posted placeholder listings for the collection. Now, Konami has officially announced the "Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience" on its official website, including the details of specifically what is included in the collection.

As expected of a bundle, "Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience" includes both "Metal Gear Solid V" titles; i.e. the short prologue "Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes" and the much longer full "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain."

"The Definitive Experience" will also include all the downloadable content released for the games. This means the "Déjà vu" and "Jamais Vu" missions for "Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes," and the additional items for "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain."

The item DLCs for "The Phantom Pain" are primarily aesthetic redesigns of existing weapons or special skins, though some have certain benefits that can affect gameplay to some extent; meaning that players who need some extra help sneaking about in Africa or the Middle East can get it. The expansion and item packs for "Metal Gear Online," the multiplayer aspect of "The Phantom Pain, are also included in "The Definitive Experience."

"Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience" will retail for a total of $49.99/$34.99 which is just a little under the price of a full game.

While the pack and its price might seem like a good deal for new players or those waiting specifically for such a pack to arrive, some who were expecting more from something labeled "definitive" are more than a little disappointed. This is because as the pack only includes already released content and no real updates either with new gameplay additions or system overhauls, they feel the price Konami is asking is not justified for titles released almost a year ago.

Collectively, "Metal Gear Solid V" was the final title "Metal Gear" series creator Hideo Kojima worked on for the franchise before his departure from Konami. The titles are the first main entry to tell the story of Big Boss during the time between the prequel "Metal Gear Solid III: Snake Eater" and the original "Metal Gear."

"Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience" will hit shelves on Oct. 11 and release to all major platforms.