Metal Gear Online Hits 1 Million Members

Metal Gear Online has gained over one million members worldwide since the launch of the service in June 2008, according to Konami officials. Initially intended to be a standalone release, the game was eventually included as part of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3. Expanding on the online component of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PlayStation 2, the game is a third person team-based shooter featuring the series’ signature stealth elements. To honor the milestone, Konami is launching the Metal Gear Online: Commemorative Campaign. Beginning on November 25th, the campaign will award 10,000 reward points to users who access the game during the promotional period that ends on December 9th. Rewards points can then be used to purchase in-game items. Additionally, 30 player characters (10 each from Japan, North America, and Europe) who access the game during the campaign period will have the chance to win an additional 1,000,000 reward points in a free draw. The Gene and Meme expansion bundle packs will also be sold at the reduced promotional price of $14.99 for the remainder of the year. Konami last week revealed that Metal Gear Solid 4 shipped over three million units worldwide, suggesting that around a third of extant game copies have played Metal Gear Online. As a result, the company is predicting an 88 percent rise in overall profits.