Metal Gear Solid 5's Multiplayer Won't Be Available at Launch

Fans who are hoping to play competitive multiplayer in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will have to wait a few weeks after the game's launch. Developer Konami today announced that Metal Gear Online, MGS V's multiplayer mode, will be released on October 6 on consoles and sometime in January 2016 on PC.

Although it's unclear why the multiplayer mode is coming after the release of the base game, Konami suggested in a press release that Metal Gear Online on PC was delayed because the release date of the PC version of MGS V was moved up. In the same release, the studio announced that the PC version of MGS V would launch on September 1, the same day as the console versions. Previously, it was planned for a September 15 release.

Metal Gear Online's delay is similar to what happened with the 2013 release of Grand Theft Auto V. It took two weeks after the game's launch before GTA Online was available for players.

Konami also revealed today that players on Steam will get several bonuses. If you preorder the game on PC, you'll receive the game's prologue, Ground Zeroes, for free. All players on Steam will get a documentary, behind-the-scenes footage, and some in-game items.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is coming to Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC on September 1. Recently, the developer talked about Metal Gear Online's player customization. Konami is also planning on showing off more of the game at Gamescom this week, including a Mother Base-themed trailer. In addition, you can get the game for free with purchase of certain Nvidia graphics cards.