Metal Gear Solid 4’s most famous joke gets updated in Master Collection Vol. 2, with Konami even bringing back the original voice actor
Konami has updated a well-known joke in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, adapting it for modern hardware while retaining its original comedic intent. The change matters because it shows the collection is being actively revised rather than simply porting the 2008 PlayStation 3 release unchanged.
The updated scene reportedly brings back the original voice actor to record the revised dialogue, preserving the character’s familiar delivery. The original joke referred to the PlayStation 3’s hardware, so its wording needed changing for the game’s return on contemporary platforms through Master Collection Vol. 2.
- Konami modernised a famous Metal Gear Solid 4 joke.
- The revised dialogue uses the original voice actor.
- The change reflects the game’s move beyond PlayStation 3.
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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a 2008 action game in Konami’s long-running Metal Gear series, created by game designer Hideo Kojima. It follows soldier Solid Snake in a future where private military companies play a major role in warfare.
The game was originally released for PlayStation 3, and some of its dialogue made jokes about that console’s hardware. Master Collection Vol. 2 is a later collection bringing the game to modern platforms; updating the reference helps the scene make sense to players using newer hardware.
The original voice actor’s return connects the revised scene with the 2008 game. The change also illustrates that older games may need adjustments when they are adapted for new systems.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Updating the joke for modern hardware ensures it remains funny and comprehensible to players experiencing the collection on contemporary systems. The original reference to PlayStation 3 specifications would baffle or bore modern audiences unfamiliar with that console's capabilities, undermining the comedic moment. By thoughtfully revising the joke whilst engaging the original voice actor, Konami preserves the creators' intent—to entertain players—even as the technological context shifts.
The case against
Games deserve preservation in their original form as historical artefacts of their time. The PS3 reference is part of gaming history and altering it, however well-intentioned, erases that cultural record from future players. Releasing changed versions sets a concerning precedent where classic works become malleable rather than fixed points; if jokes can be updated, what else might developers alter? The original release should remain available unmodified for those wishing to experience the game as creators first intended.