Konami announced today that Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection will hit the PlayStation 3 on July 9, just barely missing its earlier stated target of June. As previously reported, the collection includes Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Trophy Edition. The original MSX Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 are playable through MGS3. The two graphic novels from Ashley Woods detail the events of MGS1 and MGS2, and were previously only released on the PSP in North America.

Read more: Price revealed »

While music, films, or paintings from a century ago are as accessible as ever, video games' constant evolution means releases from even a decade ago can be frustrating to play. That's why Konami includes graphical novel adaptations of the first two Metal Gear Solid games in The Legacy Collection: so people who struggle with those quaint late-'90s controls can still "watch MGS."

Read more: Comic books illustrated by Ashley Wood »

Konami has officially announced Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection, a PS3-exclusive compilation of Hideo Kojima's revered stealth series. Included in the 25th anniversary bundle are eight games: Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Trophy Edition. In addition, two digital graphic novels will also be thrown in.

Read more: No HD re-release of MGS1 »

The Metal Gear series is no stranger to compilations. With four numbered games and an endless number of spin-offs, Hideo Kojima's saga has been collected in a number of retail packages: Essential and HD. However, another one may be coming soon: "Legacy."

Read more: Kojima tease shows every iteration of Snake »

As promised, the first real expansion pack for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is out today. The "Jetstream" DLC follows the exploits of Jetstream Sam in a side story that explains his origins and promises "multiple hours of gameplay."

Oddly, although the expansion was originally set to be $7, Konami has changed the price of the add-on to $9.99. You can pick it up on Xbox Live Marketplace now, or on PlayStation Store later today.

Watch: Jetstream Sam's unique moves »

Over 15 years and nine games, David Hayter has been the voice of Snake. His gravelly voice has come to define Metal Gear Solid. When Kojima Productions debuted Metal Gear Solid 5, many fans were surprised (nay, upset) to discover that Hayter would not return for the upcoming game. However, perhaps no one was more surprised than Hayter himself.

"If it were my choice, I would do this role forever," he said. "To hear anyone else's voice coming from Snake's battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest."

Read more: 'I will miss this job and this character very much' »

The Metal Gear games are known for being confusing. Apparently, that trait is bleeding out beyond its narrative. Yesterday's reveal of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain suggested that the game was a combination of The Phantom Pain and Ground Zeroes. However, Konami has confirmed that they are, in fact, two separate games.

"Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain are two separate games," a Konami representative told GameSpot. "Ground Zeroes will actually be a prologue to The Phantom Pain, and that's all we can share at this time."

Read more: Downloadable? Retail? »

As many had suspected, The Phantom Pain was just a ruse. At GDC yesterday, Hideo Kojima revealed Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, accompanied by a lengthy five-minute trailer, one packed with clues as to where the franchise will go.

There's the obvious: the game starts in the 1970s, shortly after the events of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. At least, the portion of the game that's referred to as Ground Zeroes. But what other tidbits are hidden in the game's official debut?

Read more: A second-by-second analysis »

So, guess Moby Dick Studio wasn't real after all. In a new trailer shown at GDC 2013, Hideo Kojima (wrapped in bandages) revealed a new trailer for The Phantom Pain Metal Gear Solid 5--as many suspected.

Hideo Kojima revealed that Metal Gear Solid 5 is the combination of both Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain. In MGS5, Snake wakes up from a nine years-long coma, and must regain his strength to escape the hospital found in TPP's VGA debut. Kojima pointed out that after escaping the hospital, players will have access to the open-world gameplay promised by Ground Zeroes.

Watch: The lengthy reveal trailer »

Tomorrow, PS3 owners will be able to pick up their free exclusive DLC for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The free content includes thirty additional VR missions, promising zany experiences that may have been too wacky for the main campaign (unbelievable as that may be).

A new Japanese trailer reveals some of the missions you'll embark on. You'll be able to play as the Dwarf Gekko once again in the first add-on mission. In another, you'll be gunning down enemies as Raiden. Another stage seems to take the perspective of a 2D side-scroller.

Read more: Jetstream Sam and LQ-84i DLC coming soon too »

There's few franchises that garner the same kind of respect Metal Gear does. Over its 25 year legacy, it's repeatedly defined landmark moments in gaming. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has a lot to live up to. Not only must it adhere to the same quality expected of the franchise, but it must make real what many fans have been waiting for: a game where you get to play as one of the series' deadly sword-wielding cyborg ninjas.

Platinum Games, developer of cult action hits like Bayonetta and Vanquish, clearly have the chops to make a great action game. But, can they make a great game that lives up to the Metal Gear name? Almost, but not quite.

Read more: Losing sight »

The Metal Gear series has a long history of PlayStation allegiance. Although Platinum Games' upcoming Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will launch simultaneously on PS3 and Xbox 360, Konami has revealed a special bonus for PlayStation players.

The PS3 version of the game will include exclusive DLC VR missions. The PlayStation-only pack adds 30 new missions to the game, a bonus that should easily sway any multi-console owners.

Watch: Naked Raiden, because why not »

One of the big mysteries of the VGAs this year was The Phantom Pain, a game that is more likely than not a cover-up for the next big Metal Gear Solid game. Supposed developer Moby Dick Studio has released yet another trailer, an "alternate" cut of their VGA debut that features a different soundtrack. Conspiracy theorists will likely have their eyes and ears open for any new clues hidden in this new video. For the rest of us, it's just another excuse to watch this mysterious trailer one more time.

Watch: The Phantom Pain, retake »

Something I found surprising in my time with the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was the greater emphasis on stealth. Sure, the game offers plenty of Platinum's unique brand of action, but it still retains a good deal of MGS-style sneaking around. After the game proved me wrong, I asked if the addition of stealth mechanics was the intention from the beginning or whether it was tossed in later to address fan concerns.

"In the beginning, we wrapped around the core concept of just having Raiden moving forward," Platinum's Atsushi Inaba answered, speaking through a translator. "It was based on sole action. But looking back, it would have been very dull and very centered around just cutting."

Read more: 'Players would just give up' without stealth »

"This may sound pretentious, but I don't like being thought of as 'the Metal Gear guy,'" Hideo Kojima laments. The success of his Metal Gear series has propelled him into the spotlight as one of gaming's leading luminaries. However, Kojima's other franchises--Boktai and Zone of the Enders, for example--have failed to replicate that success.

"There's a lot more I can do."

Read more: The benefits of working on Metal Gear »