Konami's Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Launches Temporarily in Japan on GOG

The highly acclaimed action game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, has made a surprise appearance on the DRM-free storefront GOG. The game, which was initially released in 2013, has been a fan-favorite due to its over-the-top hack-and-slash gameplay. Developed by PlatinumGames and Kojima Productions, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance had a troubled development but still managed to impress players worldwide.

Publisher Konami has been working on salvaging the Metal Gear series, starting with the re-release of classic games as part of the MGS: The Master Collection Volume 1, and a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, titled MGS Delta: Snake Eater. As part of this salvaging project, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was made available on GOG on July 4, though it has been available on Steam since 2014.

The release of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on GOG gained significant attention in Japan due to its limited availability in the country. While the game was released on PlayStation 3 worldwide, it was never available for purchase in Japan. However, the GOG version briefly became accessible to Japanese players before being removed. Konami addressed this issue, stating that it was a setting error on the GOG side and apologized for any confusion caused.

One possible explanation for the limited availability of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in Japan is an old PlayStation exclusivity clause. Sony had a strong partnership with the Metal Gear series during the PlayStation 3 era, and certain games remain exclusive to PlayStation platforms. However, this is speculative, as Konami has not provided an official explanation for the game’s limited release in Japan.

Unfortunately, region-locking digital availability is a common practice among Japanese publishers, which can be attributed to the historical significance of physical retail sales in the country. In Japan, this phenomenon is known as Omakuni and refers to games that are restricted or not sold in the country. While these practices may seem outdated in today’s digital age, they persist.

Japanese Metal Gear fans may be disappointed by this situation, as they can only access Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on PlayStation 3, a console that is two generations old and no longer in production. We reached out to Konami for further clarification and will update this article with any response received.

Here are some additional facts relevant to the topic:

1. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a spin-off title from the popular Metal Gear series, known for its stealth gameplay. However, Revengeance focuses more on fast-paced action and sword combat.

2. The game features Raiden, a cyborg ninja, as the protagonist and includes a unique “Blade Mode” where players can slice enemies and objects with precision.

3. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was directed by Hideki Kamiya, who is known for his work on other action games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta.

4. The GOG version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance includes all previously released DLCs, providing players with additional missions and costumes.

5. The limited availability of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in Japan may have sparked interest among Japanese fans who were unable to play the game on other platforms.

Important questions and their answers:

1. What is Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance?
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is an action game developed by PlatinumGames and Kojima Productions. It is a spin-off from the popular Metal Gear series and focuses on fast-paced sword combat.

2. Why was Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance unavailable for purchase in Japan?
The exact reason for the game’s limited release in Japan is not officially explained. However, speculations suggest it may be due to an old exclusivity clause with Sony and regional digital availability restrictions.

Key challenges or controversies:

1. Limited availability: The fact that Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was not initially available for purchase in Japan created disappointment among Japanese fans, who had to rely on an older console to play the game.

2. Region-locking practices: The region-locking of digital availability by Japanese publishers, including Konami, has been a common practice. This restricts certain games or delays their release in specific regions.

Advantages:

1. Access on GOG: The availability of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on the GOG platform gives players the opportunity to purchase and play the game without DRM restrictions.

2. Inclusion of DLCs: The GOG version includes all previously released DLCs, providing players with additional content and enhancing their gameplay experience.

Disadvantages:

1. Limited availability in Japan: Japanese fans were not able to purchase the game on other platforms, and the brief availability on GOG created confusion and disappointment.

2. Outdated console requirement: The only option for Japanese players to access Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is through the PlayStation 3, which is an older console no longer in production.