Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s blood-soaked promotional materials explained by Kojima

When Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain became available for pre-order on the Japanese PlayStation Store it was accompanied by an extremely blood-soaked poster.

The poster went without explanation and left fans wondering what it could mean for the title. Today, Director Hideo Kojima has taken to Twitter to explain the poster and the bloodiness.

「MGSV TPP」は「伝説の英雄」が地獄(アウターヘブン)に堕ちる話。それを言葉ではなく、ビジュアルで表現したかった。これは数ヶ月前の血みどろテスト。ホラー調に誇張した没バージョン。 pic.twitter.com/APsn8Am31V

— 小島秀夫 (@Kojima_Hideo) August 2, 2015

The first tweet reads “MGSV TPP” is the tale of the legendary hero falling to hell (Outher Heaven). I wanted to express it visually, not in words. This is the bloody test from a few months back. It’s a rejected version that was exaggerated in its horror style.”

MGS1では今も残る核の脅威と次世代に続く遺伝子の問題を、MGS2では文化的遺伝子を、MGS3では冷戦時代を、MGS4では無人機、PMF等の代理戦争を、PWでは平和の向こうにある抑止力を、MGSVでは報復の連鎖を描く。一ヶ月を切った。 pic.twitter.com/nGn9OMQ2KI

— 小島秀夫 (@Kojima_Hideo) August 2, 2015

The second reads “In MGS the threat of nuclear weapons and the problem of genetics towards the next generation, In MGS2 the culture of genetics, in MGS3 the cold war era, In MGS4 the drones, the proxy war of PMF, in PW [Peace Walker] the deterrence on the other site of peace. With MGSV the chain of retailiation is drawn. One month left.”

There you have it.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be available for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One 1 September 2015.