Konami: "MGS4 is exclusive to PlayStation 3." Us: "!"

by Christopher Grant { Dec 18th 2006 at 7:28PM }

Well, what did you think they were going to say? Just days after the Metal Gear Solid 4 is coming to Xbox 360 rumorang swooshed back for yet another appearance in the console exclusivity spotlight, series publisher Konami reached its giant metaphorical arm out a similarly metaphorical window and snatched it from the air. Then they stomped it dead. Again.

Konami told CVG that "MGS4 is exclusive to PlayStation 3." Of course, this is similar (but not identical) to their statement to Joystiq last time we danced to this number, that "Metal Gear 4 is a PS3 title." Of course, we've seen other highly anticipated third-party titles go through a similar exclusivity Bermuda triangle, their exact whereabouts unknown for some time. We can't imagine what sort of high-powered, backroom negotiations would result in a third-party game as popular as MGS4 being relegated to a single new-gen platform, not to mention one that may be in short supply until as late as 2008 (according to some).

!

Tags: Exclusivity, Konami, MGS4

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

silkylove @ Dec 18th 2006 7:36PM

I did not have sexual relations with that woman.

Eggroll @ Dec 18th 2006 7:36PM

Thank goodness they killed the rumor. Now everyone can stop arguing.

DBX00 @ Dec 18th 2006 7:41PM

Nope. People will just say they are lying and that it really is coming out on XBOX360 (might as well throw in Wii while we're at it)...

chudgoo @ Dec 18th 2006 7:41PM

It looks like Kutagari got wind of it and had the lawyers give Konami a call.

Honestly I can't imagine how much money it is costing Sony to keep Konami loyal.

Something tells me that Konami would be much better off if they were free agents...

razer @ Dec 18th 2006 7:42PM

Great job Konami! You show them! I fully support your decision to make very little money off your franchise due to your fierce dedication to Sony. I wish you all the best of luck in failure.

Digital Fine Art Guy @ Dec 18th 2006 7:43PM

The exact statement: "Konami has no plans to bring Metal Gear Solid 4 to the Xbox 360 at this time."

Of course, this is really a non-statement, because "at this time" means everything could change at another time. Like tomorrow.

Nill @ Dec 18th 2006 7:44PM

And it'll be PS3 "exclusive" right up until the 360 version is released shortly after.

Jimmy Carter @ Dec 18th 2006 7:46PM

"1. I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

Oh.

...uh...well..... I did....

JAC @ Dec 18th 2006 7:52PM

Why don't you post the entire quote?

"Konami has no plans to bring Metal Gear Solid 4 to the Xbox 360 at this time. [It's] exclusive to PlayStation 3."

That doesn't confirm or deny the rumor, actually it makes a stronger case for them realeasing it for the 360 a few months after the PS3 IMO; if they are 100% sure that it's a PS3 exclusive then they would have said so clearly.

BIGGEN @ Dec 18th 2006 7:56PM

good, they can keep it. just like the final fantasy's. both are severely played out and tired. now i would rather see, i don't know, GOOD games like God of War 2, Shadow of the Colossus 2, Guitar Hero 2, oh, wait....

lk @ Dec 18th 2006 7:57PM

Everyone is already waiting for the other shoe despite the subsequent denial.

People really don't have faith in Sony around these parts.

Eligio J Rosa @ Dec 18th 2006 8:00PM

I call BS on the "confirmation".

Remember Resident Evil 4? Only for the Gamecube?

Its not gonna be release at the same time as the PS3 version but it gonna come to the 360.

jarod @ Dec 18th 2006 8:02PM

not too long ago i remember:

"Metal Gear Solid 2 is a Playstation 2 exclusive title, and will not be coming to other systems."

/owns on xbox

wait til these developers start dropping their jaws at the nonexistant return-on-investment and then we'll see. Assassin's Creed, RE5, GTA, for these huge games, one system alone cannot hold them.

Cal @ Dec 18th 2006 8:05PM

I have a 360 but I hope it stays for PS3. Exclusives are what makes consoles more appealing to other people, and it really hurts what could be great games .(games not made to utilize the hardware, lame ports)

w/e! :D

Seroth @ Dec 18th 2006 8:05PM

Metal Gear Solid 4 is exclusive to the PS3...

But Metal Gear Solid 4: SUSTENANCE...hmm.. :P

Wicked Laharl @ Dec 18th 2006 8:12PM

That doesn't sound like fierce dedication to me. Otherwise wouldn't konami just flat out say it was a PS3 exclusive rather than leaving the possibility open with this statement?

JohnQAnonymous @ Dec 18th 2006 8:32PM

If you people really want to see this game on non-Sony systems, you seriously need to shut up about all of this.

The more you leak rumors, the more Sony's going to go and yell at Konami. And then you won't get it, at it'll only be your own damn faults. You need to just let this die so Konami can spring it on Sony when Sony's not expecting it.

It's like begging your parents to take you to the mall. They're totally willing to until you get impatient and keep asking for it, and then the asnwer becomes "No." Let it die, and you'll have a much better chance of getting what you want.

Ross Castro @ Dec 18th 2006 8:38PM

WHAT!?? YOU KNEWWW!!?!?

Aex @ Dec 18th 2006 8:43PM

@Wicked Laharl

Because in PR school they teach you never to make abosolute statements. Everything said needs to have a loophole so that if in the near/far future someone ever does change their mind for some reason, they didn't alienate anyone. Only fanboys work in absolutes, not smart company representatives.

When people who speak for a company speak in absolutes you get lots and lots of anger when that absolute can't/isn't met. Look what happened when the president wanted to keep a little sucky sucky on the side secret from his wife, we get 31 boxes of evidence for impeachment...

silkylove @ Dec 18th 2006 8:57PM

@ 19,

"Only fanboys work in absolutes"

You mean "Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes."

Fanboy attack!! >:)

Max @ Dec 18th 2006 8:59PM

I'm actually quite pissed about this...but the suggested ambiguity of the statement has lightened my spirits a bit. I swear, this is the only rumor I'm so desperate to believe, I've thrown reason out the window. I'm usually not so blind....but I just want this damn game...

....without buying a PS3, of course.

GiovanniMcAdoo @ Dec 18th 2006 9:00PM

I believe the reason why they said at this time is not because the have the 360 in plan; it is mostly because waiting to see if SONY fixes their production problems. If SONy and reach their goal of 6 million or even 5 million by March. Metal Gear Solid 4 will remain an exclusive for the PlayStation 3. Because if they can hit 5/6 million by March they can atleast push out 2 million to 4 million more by the time Metal Gear Solid 4 launches which will be a system seller. And lets not forget that the 6 million unit out by March goal mark is before the release of Final Fantasy XIII which is a guranteed system seller as well. Konami is waiting SONY to fix their production prblem they deside to go multi-platform with this one.

Xiath @ Dec 18th 2006 9:11PM

Alex you are completely correct. Anyone remember the whole Resident Evil 4 on th PS2 and Shinji Mikami saying he would "cut his own head off" if Resident Evil 4 came to the PlayStation 2."
Yeah, he shouldn't have said that...

Vlad @ Dec 18th 2006 9:12PM

well first, HOORAY! I'm happy about this...i don't know why, but I am. I guess I just like certain games to be exclusive. I would be weirded out of Halo went to PS3, you know?

anyway, for 360 people...you'll probably get MGS4 eventually. though, MGS3 never came to Xbox, did it? maybe you won't? hmm.

dpcough @ Dec 18th 2006 9:29PM

It is coming to 360, it is not a matter of if it will or not, it is a matter of when.

Konami dodges yet again:

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155964

"However, Assistant Producer on Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and one of the Producers on MGS4, Ryan Payton, ducked the exclusivity question, telling the 1UP Yours Podcast that Metal Gear Solid 4 would "be a good game."

GiovanniMcAdoo @ Dec 18th 2006 9:55PM

#25

Did the thought even cross your mind that maybe, just maybe, he was told not to discuss that due to them not knowing right now and waiting for ONY tof ix their problems? So if I ask you if you was a Xbox 360 fanboy and you dodge the question by answering, "Its a good system" does that automaticly means you are a fanboy?

lukii @ Dec 18th 2006 9:57PM

Remember RE4 and Viewtiful Joe!

Steve2 @ Dec 18th 2006 10:13PM

It was a stupid rumor anyway. It said it would come to 360 because of "blue laser diode failures".

The problem with this statement is there aren't any appreciable number of blue laser diode failures. The drive in the PS3 seems solid, so far (and I know it isn't far yet) the PS3 drive has had a better reliability record than the PS2 or Xbox optical drives did.

It was a BS story, about a BS rumor. And then a bunch of people jumped on it. Now when it is refuted, people still say "well, some day maybe..." And they're right, there will probably be some kind of MGS4:Substance for 360 someday.

But none of that has anything to do with the rumor or the story written about it. It just is something that logical minds assume. It was before, it is now. But that just makes it speculation, just like it was two weeks ago.

The story is no different, people assume a variant of MGS4 will come to 360. And they may be right. Absolutely zero actual information indicating this is true was release though.

dpcough:
That interview was two weeks ago, before this thing even happened. It isn't Konami dodging this rumor, this rumor wasn't even on the front burner at the time. The interviewee there dodged all questions about MGS4 (indeed not about Portable Ops), so him dodging this one doesn't mean all that much.

There will be a lot of PS3s in the market by the time MGS4 comes out. Sony is producing them at a pretty decent clip. It appears it is at least 100,000 per week already and they're going to ramp up further and bring a new plant online (making 3) also. There will not be PS3 shortages for much longer into 2007 than there were into 2006 with 360s.

This is just such a silly argument. It's amazing people can get so stirred over no actual info.

Nitroid @ Dec 18th 2006 10:16PM

Told you so.

CyberKnight @ Dec 18th 2006 11:26PM

For those of you who are still denying that MGS4 is a PS3 exclusive, here's a recent excerpt of an interview with Kojima taken straight from Game Informer.

[Quote]

GI: Your devotion to the Sony hardware is very understandable given that history. But do you think that there could have been a chance that the series could have gone multiplatform if the Xbox or GameCube versions of the games had been bigger hits?

Kojima: It’s a difficult question to answer, because multi-format is not what I like to do in terms of game development. I believe that all hardware has good points and bad points. With the rivals of this hardware battle, that grows, meaning that the game industry grows. If game hardware is integrated to one, and games are integrated to one, then we die, same as nature. So what I thought was that I wanted to create a game for the PlayStation, specifically using the PlayStation and what the PlayStation could do. Same for the Xbox. I would like to create games for the Xbox, to take advantage of what the Xbox is the most capable of doing.

For instance, Metal Gear Solid 2 was specifically created for PlayStation 2, because the PlayStation 2 was capable of creating transparent polygons. Alpha - meaning combinations of transparent polygons was what gave them the idea to express rain and wind using the PS2. So it was suitable for users to play using the PlayStation format. When it was converted to Xbox, that’s a little different, because there is a change there of the expression. It’s not as complete, because it was designed specifically for the PlayStation 2.

I should not say anything bad about our competition, but look at Splinter Cell 2, the Xbox version looks really great, but the PS2 looks a little odd, with choppy graphics. I think that is not loyal to the loyal game fans. I don’t want to do that kind of thing.

So for Metal Gear Solid 4, we have already started the project for the PlayStation 3 platform. We would like to concentrate specifically on what we could do just for the PlayStation 3. For example, if I was to create Metal Gear Solid 5 or another title for the Xbox 360, I would create solely for the 360, taking advantage of the hardware, and would not convert to PlayStation 3, because that will not be a very good conversion. Another example is the Revolution. I will try to create a title specifically taking advantage of the Revolution hardware.

So it wasn’t the hardware’s fault for the conversion edition of the Xbox game, or the GameCube version of the Twin Snakes. It didn’t do as well as people thought because it was a conversion. It wasn’t created for that machine. If Metal Gear Solid was created specifically for GameCube or Xbox, the result would have been a lot different.

[End Quote]

So there you have it, folks. No MGS4 for Xbox 360. The Xbox fanboys just need to learn to accept the hard truth.

Hibisco @ Dec 18th 2006 11:40PM

Thanks Nitroid.
You 360 fucks will never get MGS4 unless you get a PS3. And everyone's gonna have a PS3 except for the lowliest Wii60 fanboys. Everyone always does get a PS console.
You won't get it a year later, because it will sell well on the PS3.

refinedsugar @ Dec 18th 2006 11:52PM

ANOTHER HEART ATTACK, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?

B33 @ Dec 19th 2006 12:09AM

MGS 4 is a PS3 exclusive. It's a killer-app and Sony knows it. Sony letting Konami put MGS 4 on the 360 is like Microsoft letting Epic put Gears of War on the PS3. It's not going to happen. If you want to play MGS 4, go buy a PS3. Otherwise, go back to playing Zelda or Gears of War.

Next-Gen-Gamer @ Dec 19th 2006 12:17AM

"You 360 fucks will never get MGS4 unless you get a PS3. And everyone's gonna have a PS3 except for the lowliest Wii60 fanboys. Everyone always does get a PS console.
You won't get it a year later, because it will sell well on the PS3."

I hope you're aware of the hypocrisy in that entire post. Anyway, I consider myself unbias. I've played all three consoles, I've read all the news and the specs. That being said, I think to completely rule out MGS4 for the 360 is just as stupid as guaranteeing it's port arrival. As I said, I've read all the news. Which means I read the article about developers failing to make a profit, because the hardware-to-software ratio is horrible. Not only that, but just because MGS4 will sell well for the PS3, doesn't necessarily mean much when there aren't many PS3 units out.

Kojima can deny all he wants, but let's face reality. Kojima Productions is owned by Konami, and just like every other business, they need to make money. If they barely squeeze out a profit on the PS3, you can bet on seeing a port. Kojima may not want to do it, but contrary to popular belief, he's not the boss. Unless he writes the paychecks, he has to fall in line with every other Konami employee.

I understand there's a respect level with Konami and Kojima, but if Hideo means what he says, then he and his superiors may have a clash that Kojima simply can't win.

It's all a bunch of "what if" scenarios at this point, but somewhat educated guesses (I'm not genius, trust me) shouldn't be ruled out.

James @ Dec 19th 2006 12:24AM

@#1: You think MGS4 is a PS3 exclusive? Depends what the meaning of "is" is.

Seriously, RE4 was the first thing that jumped to my mind, and I see I'm not the only one thinking that. MGS2 went to Xbox, but 3 I think did not... so I guess we'll see. But it definitely sounds more like a dodge than a killing blow.

VampireHunter Z @ Dec 19th 2006 12:36AM

It would really be nice if it came to 360. Traditionally Xbox has had a stronger attach rate so Konami knows a lot of people will buy. But I doubt it will be ported. Remember those MGS4 trailers with Octacon boosting about the Cell processor? Yep this will be exclusive.

SonicRift @ Dec 19th 2006 12:55AM

Note that the article CyberNight quoted mentions the "Revolution." That means the interview was probably conducted before Kojima knew there'd be no rumble (a fact revealed weeks after the name "Wii"). And I know he wasn't pleased with that. If that means anything...

Whatever. I'm not buying a PS3 for another half decade, if ever, so as much as I'd love to play this on a system I do have, I'm not getting my hopes up.

Hibisco @ Dec 19th 2006 1:23AM

Xbox does NOT have a stronger attach rate. PS1 and PS2 both get 9+ attach rates with time. Other consoles fall behind, fact.

There is no hypocricy, and Kojima set up Kojima Productions so he could have control of the titles, without having the administrative issues of working directly for Konami in another studio. So what he says sticks, whether your dumbasses or Konami likes it or not. End of that argument.

RE4 was Capcom, most likely, Lost Planet is the one which will be switching sides, the producers have said there is a strong chance, and Capcom has this history. Konami does not. So not only do you 360 fucks lose Lost Planet (and probably Dead Rising sequels), but we don't lose MGS4, and we don't lose DMC4 because it's always found a market here.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

oddNumber @ Dec 19th 2006 2:34AM

im not really of fan of the Metal Gear series,but for some reason this and the portable ops version have gathered my interest.

i dont think this game would run well on the 360. in fact i think this game would crash many 360's.... just go to the xbox forums and you will see that even crappy games crash the 360.

360 is like Ford. It looks goods and runs well for a while... and then splat. you need repairs.

360=POS.

JJ @ Dec 19th 2006 2:44AM

Now that would be interesting if IPs like Dead rising and Lost planet wound up on PS3 and Capcom IS known for doing that (RE4 comes to mind...).

But then the likewise is also interesting if MGS4 does end up going multiplat.

But only time will tell in either cases. Who knows DMC may go multiplatform and Capcom (among other publisher) console exclusives may cease to exist as we know it.

Now the only system that will have exclusives is Ninty when it comes to multiplat games (What with its new fangled controller and all)

Rey Padilla @ Dec 19th 2006 3:07AM

Meh, if it is to be released for the 360, it'll probably be awhile before it comes out ala MGS2 for the original Xbox. No big shock there.

pattyblades @ Dec 19th 2006 6:42AM

""1. I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

Oh.

...uh...well..... I did...."

I confess, i did as well

Jeff @ Dec 19th 2006 7:51AM

So, did I call it or did I call it?

mandapanda @ Dec 19th 2006 7:59AM

actually they said it's excluive to the ps3 "for now"

mandapanda @ Dec 19th 2006 8:03AM

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=152210?cid=otc-rss&attr=cvg-general-rss&skip=yes

"Konami has no plans to bring Metal Gear Solid 4 to the Xbox 360 at this time"

at this time being the key words. same thing was said for assassin's creed.

hmmm...

who knows.

Embassy @ Dec 19th 2006 8:20AM

I think you are all missing the bigger picture here, while I do believe it will be exclusive to PS3, if it was ported it is more likely to go to the Nintendo Wii than the 360.

leadbelly @ Dec 19th 2006 11:14AM

hmm... regardless to whether or not MGS4 comes to xbox 360, it was obvious konami was going to make this statement. due to production problems, the high price tag of the PS3 and the general bad press sony has been getting, it doesn't make sense for konami to announce that the game is coming to xbox 360 so early. you must understand it's being made for the PS3 first and foremost. with so very few PS3's on the market(it's not even reached europe yet) they can't afford the PS3 getting even more bad press. konami are fully aware that MGS4 is a system seller and for some people, it's the only reason they want one. if they say it's going to be released a few months after the PS3 now, they may risk potential customers who will hold out for the 360 version.

at the end of the day, konami are in it to sell as many copies as possible. whether or not there will be an xbox 360 version we will have to wait and see, but konami are not going to shoot themselves in the foot now, especially when the game is nowhere near finished.

Pulse @ Dec 19th 2006 1:30PM

Can I just add a point, what is topping the PS3 from selling several units before MGS4 releases late next year? Why should Konami not make any profit if it sells the same amount of games as there have been PS3 units sold? If people are willing to buy a PS3 for MGS4 why should not making profit even come into the equation, I could understand if the game were releasing next month, then you would all be rightfully justified, but we are talking a year here, look how many 360s were ssold in a year, with Sony doing the supplying and selling of consooles, there is no reason for a hindrance of selling the games. So that statement doesn't makes sense.

Besides, when did 360 fans give a toss about anything other then FPS anywho?

leadbelly @ Dec 19th 2006 2:20PM

"Can I just add a point, what is topping the PS3 from selling several units before MGS4 releases late next year?"

well, there have been rumours that sony may further delay the release of the PS3 in europe. it has been no secret that sony have had production problems. they didn't even meet the reported 500,000 units in the US which they originally speculated.

"Why should Konami not make any profit if it sells the same amount of games as there have been PS3 units sold?"

yes, but that would be assuming every person that has purchased a PS3 will also purchase MGS4. that isn't necessarily so. and it still may not be sastisfactory amount.

the bottom line is, MGS4 is probably costing konami a lot of money to make. at this moment it's imperative that they quash any rumours of possible ports to other consoles as that may hinder the growth of PS3 units sold. the game is being produced for the PS3. because of the cost of making it, they would want to sell as many as possible with the initial version. porting it to 360 would cost them more time and money, not to mention any possible problems they may run into.

i'm guessing that they have definitely spoke about the possiblity of porting the game over at the very least. i think at the moment it's just a waiting game... maybe they have a fixed date in their mind to make their final decision. if the PS3 doesn't sell as well as they hoped, you can pretty much predict a 360 version following not so long after. i can still see it coming over to the 360 actually, it's just a question of how soon.