Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes details

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes has been given a launch window of Spring 2014, when it's set to release on both current and next-gen platforms.

It was also confirmed that Ground Zeroes will act as prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Several key gameplay mechanics will be introduced, to be expanded on in the fifth full MGS title, and Ground Zeroes will also act as a prologue to the main story, acting as "a bridge between the linearity of existing titles and the full open-world environments of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain".

Series creator Hideo Kojima said: "The advanced capabilities of the FOX Engine have allowed me to tell the new story in a new way. There will be a significant difference in what Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain brings to the series, so we want to ease players into the new open world environment and its potential. As such, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes has been designed to introduce key elements, allowing them to fully benefit from all that the new game will offer."

The prelude to The Phantom Pain will give the team a chance to showcase the Fox Engine, as well as offer gamers a chance to experience a story set around the infiltration of a Cuban prison camp. The events initiated here will then set up the plot lines for The Phantom Pain.

The game will launch on current and next-gen consoles. On PS3 and Xbox 360, players will have the option of boxed retail (£19.99) or digital download (£29.99). Going digital on next-gen will cost £19.99. There's no mention of a retail edition of Ground Zeroes on next-gen consoles, so we'll have to wait and see whether it's a digital-only title or not.