Eleven years after its release, Hideo Kojima has taken to social media to reflect on the initial wave of negativity that met Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes.

The Metal Gear Solid franchise is one of gaming's most iconic, and arguably the defining work of Kojima's career. While other installments are widely celebrated as classics, Ground Zeroes faced a different reception upon launch.

Kojima explained his vision for the game on social media: "I saw it as a bridge between Peace Walker and MGSV: The Phantom Pain, connecting two generations (of consoles and handhelds).  While I initially considered it part of The Phantom Pain, the PS4 had just launched with few titles available.  This led to Ground Zeroes releasing ahead of the main game."

He further elaborated on its purpose: "The goal was to introduce the new gameplay (solo infiltration, mission completion, helicopter extraction) and the new Fox Engine visuals. It also offered an affordable entry point for Peace Walker players.  Despite being short, we packed it with gameplay elements. While appreciated now, 11 years ago, online criticism was harsh, with comments like ‘selling a demo at full price?’  It received the lowest Metacritic score in the Metal Gear series."

Kojima clearly takes pride in this often-misunderstood entry.  Ground Zeroes, while initially perceived as lacking content, housed hidden depths and crucial plot details discovered later by dedicated players.  It served as a vital narrative and mechanical prologue to The Phantom Pain, its significance fully understood only after the main game's release.

The Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience now bundles Ground Zeroes with The Phantom Pain, offering a more complete and cohesive experience, even acknowledging The Phantom Pain’s own unfinished state.

Kojima's next project, Death Stranding 2, is currently slated for a 2025 release.