Whenever I see a Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance meme on Facebook, Reddit, or X, I'm reminded to replay the game. Yet every time I attempt to do so, I can't — because it's nowhere to be found on modern consoles.
The game was released on February 19, 2013, on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. It was released during an incredible era of gaming, during which players enjoyed massive hits like Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, BioShock Infinite from Irrational Games, and Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V.
Despite the stiff competition, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance carved out a name among the year's standout releases. So why hasn’t Konami bothered to remaster one of its best action games?
Since its launch, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has sold over 2 million copies, despite initial backlash from fans who complained, “This isn’t the Metal Gear game we wanted.” Yet the game confidently established its own canon following the events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and its hack-and-slash combat was nothing short of exhilarating.
Critics and gamers alike praised the game upon its release, praising its satisfying combat, fantastic soundtrack, and story that—more than a decade later—is still worth discussing. Unsurprisingly, players (especially me) continue to call for its return.
A remake would be great, but Konami has been reintroducing Metal Gear Solid to modern audiences through remakes and remasters. And even if they were interested, there's still the question of whether PlatinumGames would be willing to refine its original combat system.
A sequel seems even less likely, considering Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series, has long since moved on from his tactical espionage projects. And while Konami still owns the Metal Gear IP, that alone doesn’t guarantee success (see: Metal Gear Survive).
Realistically, the best way to bring Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance back isn’t through a remake or a sequel. A remaster would be the most feasible option, and it fits perfectly with Konami’s recent trend of reviving Metal Gear Solid titles for a modern audience (e.g., the Metal Gear Solid collections).
It wouldn’t need to be a groundbreaking remaster—just a version that runs on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. PC players can still access it through alternative means or by purchasing it on Steam, assuming it’s available in their region.
All Konami and PlatinumGames need to do is release a simple remaster of Raiden’s wild adventure. This will allow longtime fans to revisit the game and introduce new players to its over-the-top action.
There’s a strong chance that newer audiences would appreciate Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance as well, especially with the market for character action games skyrocketing thanks to titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Stellar Blade, and upcoming releases like Lost Soul Aside and Tides of Annihilation.
For now, with Konami focused on Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater Delta, all we can do is wait — and hope they eventually wake up Raiden’s cybernetic corpse from hibernation. Because damn, I miss slicing watermelons and enemy limbs.