Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater are being temporarily delisted on most digital storefronts.
The announcement came via an official post on Konami's website, which provides the reason behind the games' removal. "We are currently working on renewing the licenses for select historical archive footage used in-game, therefore, we have made the temporary decision to begin suspending the sale of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3 and all products that include these games from digital storefronts globally starting from November 8th, 2021," reads the post.
While this may panic some players who have yet to purchase these classic stealth games, Konami reassured fans that the delisting is only a temporary measure. "We sincerely ask for your patience and understanding as we work towards making these products available for purchase once again," continues the post.
On Nov. 8, Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater will disappear from a variety of older console stores. These include the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360 and Nintendo 3DS. They will also be delisted from GOG, a PC-based storefront dedicated to selling games without DRM. Newer entries in the franchise, including Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain will still be available for purchase.
Konami hasn't stated which historical footage is responsible for the delisting. The Metal Gear Solid franchise is known for its use of real-world historical events to inform its narratives. The Cold War plays a significant role in the story of both the second and third games. Sons of Liberty is set in an alternate history where The Cold War only ends in the late 1990s while Snake Eater is set in a Soviet jungle in the 1960s, during the height of the conflict between Russia and the United States.
Originally launched in 2001, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was a critical and commercial success for Konami. The game places players in the boots of super-spy Solid Snake and is widely considered to be one of the first-ever "post-modern" video games as it actively seeks to subvert player's expectations by breaking the fourth wall. An HD version of Sons of Liberty was later released in 2011.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was similarly well-received, with fans and critics praising its engaging gameplay, compelling characters and overall stylish presentation. Just like its older sibling, Snake Eater had an HD re-release in 2011.
Source: Konami