Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is receiving strong reviews ahead of its August 27, 2026 release, with Metal Gear Solid 4 emerging as the main attraction.
The collection brings Metal Gear Solid 4 to Xbox for the first time and also includes Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker in its HD Collection form. Buyers can purchase the games separately, but the full collection includes additional extras such as Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, the handheld entry originally released in 2000.
Early reviews are based on the PlayStation 5 version because Xbox review codes do not appear to have been widely distributed yet.
Reviews Are Strong Across the Board
The collection currently holds an average Metacritic score of 85, based on the reviews available so far.
| Review score | Main takeaway |
|---|---|
| 5/5 | Strong overall package, with MGS4, Peace Walker, and Ghost Babel all praised |
| 9/10 | MGS4’s return is the headline feature, with solid preservation work |
| 9/10 | Faithful ports and worthwhile extras make it easy to recommend |
| 8.5/10 | MGS4 benefits from improved frame rate behavior, while Peace Walker remains strong |
| 8/10 | MGS4 looks and runs better than before |
| 8/10 | Strong collection, but missing features keep it from feeling fully comprehensive |
Metal Gear Solid 4 receives most of the attention because it has remained tied to PlayStation 3 hardware for nearly two decades. Reviewers generally agree that its return alone makes the collection important for longtime fans, especially those who have not had an easy way to replay it.
Peace Walker also receives positive comments, particularly for its cooperative design and continued relevance within the series.
Ghost Babel is another notable inclusion. Although it is not as prominent as the two larger titles, several reviews praise it as a worthwhile extra and an important part of the franchise’s history.
MGS4 Is the Main Reason to Buy the Collection
The biggest draw is clearly Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Reviews highlight that the new version finally removes the game from its old PlayStation 3 limitation and allows it to run with improved performance. One review specifically notes a locked frame rate improvement, while another praises the game running at 60 FPS and looking better than before.
For Xbox players, the release is particularly significant because this is the first time Metal Gear Solid 4 has been available on the platform.
That makes Master Collection Vol. 2 more than a standard rerelease package for Xbox owners. It fills a major gap in the series that has existed for years.
Some Reviewers Wanted More Content
The collection is not receiving universal praise.
One of the main criticisms is that it does not do much to modernize the games beyond making them more accessible. Peace Walker is also largely based on the existing HD Collection version rather than a substantially reworked edition.
Another criticism is the lack of Metal Gear Online and the relatively limited number of extras compared with what some fans may have expected from a second Master Collection.
Even so, those concerns have not significantly hurt the overall review scores.
Price and Release Date
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 launches on August 27, 2026.
The full collection is priced at $49.99 in the US and £44.98 in the UK. Individual game pricing has not yet been confirmed.
For players mainly interested in Metal Gear Solid 4, the option to buy individual titles could be useful once those prices are revealed. However, the complete package adds Peace Walker, Ghost Babel, and other extras that may make it more appealing to longtime fans.
Based on the early reviews, Master Collection Vol. 2 appears to be a strong preservation release, with Metal Gear Solid 4’s return doing most of the heavy lifting and Peace Walker and Ghost Babel giving the package additional value.
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