Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Arrives on a New Platform, but with a Caveat

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, the acclaimed action-packed spin-off developed by PlatinumGames and praised for its intense gameplay, is now available on the GOG platform - but with a notable caveat, as the GOG version is not accessible in Japan. This regional restriction is likely due to the game's previous PS3 exclusivity in the Japanese market, though the reasons behind this decision remain unclear. Nonetheless, the opportunity for a wider audience to experience Revengeance's unique take on the Metal Gear franchise outside of Japan is a welcome development for fans eager to immerse themselves in its high-octane combat.

The 2013 action spin-off Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, developed by PlatinumGames, is now available on the GOG platform, but with a notable exception - it is not accessible in its native Japan. The game follows the cyborg ninja Raiden as he fights to prevent a corrupt private military company from plunging the world into war, four years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4. Departing from the series' usual stealth and gunplay focus, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance emphasizes intense, katana-based combat, though sneaking is still an option. Despite this regional restriction, the opportunity for a wider global audience to experience Revengeance's unique take on the Metal Gear franchise is a welcome development for fans.

Despite a tumultuous development cycle that involved a switch in developers from Hideo Kojima's Kojima Productions to Platinum Games, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance launched to critical acclaim, thanks to its blistering and punishing gameplay that allowed players to unleash their fury upon anything in Raiden's path. The game's adrenaline-packed story and cutscenes have also spawned numerous memes over the years, further piquing the interest of new players eager to experience the game's unique take on the Metal Gear franchise. The enduring popularity and memetic status of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance have only served to encourage more gamers to discover the game's thrilling and intense combat for themselves.

The regional exclusivity of the PC version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in Japan may be tied to the game's initial PlayStation 3-only release in the country back in 2013, while it was made available on Xbox 360 and Steam in other regions. While Konami has not provided an official explanation for this decision, it is worth noting that the previous Metal Gear Solid title, Guns of the Patriots, has also remained exclusive to the PS3 console in Japan. The lack of a clear rationale behind these regional restrictions has left fans puzzled, but the opportunity for a broader global audience to experience Revengeance's acclaimed action gameplay is now available, even if it remains unavailable in its country of origin.

Meanwhile, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has now found a new home on the DRM-free GOG platform, offering gamers outside of Japan a fresh opportunity to experience this action-packed Metal Gear Solid spin-off. While its exclusion from the Japanese market may be a source of contention for some, the game's availability on GOG provides players elsewhere a chance to delve into Revengeance's acclaimed combat and narrative ahead of the upcoming launch of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater later this year. The lack of controversial DRM on GOG further enhances the appeal of this new avenue for players to immerse themselves in the Metal Gear universe.