Konami have had a very quiet presentation at the E3 Media & Business Summit this year, revealing very few new things. Instead, they've focused on their established franchises, and committed to continuing their support for Metal Gear Online.

Announcing that the first expansion pack for Metal Gear Online will be available on July the 17th, Konami also outlined the new features, and unveiled some new screenshots. We've got all the info about the expansion, fresh from E3 along with the new screenshots.


The 'Gene' expansion adds a number of features to the game, including three new maps. The maps are Coppertown Conflict, which is constructed of wide, open streets, Tomb of Tubes, a 'labyrinth of underground passages', and Virtuous Vista completing the alliterative theme of the new maps with a 'sprawling outdoor locale'.

Also introducing a 'survival' game mode, in which players attempt to stay alive for as long as possible through a series of increasingly harder stages, the 'Gene' expansion adds many other features in addition to the above.

A reward shop wil be introduced, where players can purchase different equipment based on their performance in-game. Finally, Meryl and Johnny will appear as playable online characters, along with the ability for players to create female soldiers when making a new character.


Christopher Heck, European Brand Manager for Konami reassures that this will not be the last in a long line of content for Metal Gear Online.

Konami is committed to the evolution of Metal Gear Online, and this first expansion pack illustrates the ways the game can be enhanced with new stages, characters and modes. The new update represents terrific value for money, and will be followed by additional add-ons in the coming months designed to keep Metal Gear Online fans enthralled with the new possibilities they will bring.

While I'm not sure what the asking price for the content will be for Australians, the update will be priced at 9.99 Euro for European audiences. For three maps, a new mode, 'rewards' and two playable characters a quick currency conversion doesn't have me agreeing with the 'great value for money statement' from Heck, given that other titles such as Burnout Paradise and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 have presented Playstation 3 owners with far more prolific and free updates.