Metal Gear Solid fans have been poring over Metal Gear Solid 5 since its release date, trying to uncover each and every little detail and hidden reference. Modders over on the Facepunch forums, however, may have found one of the biggest: a third chapter, cut from the game. Warning: I'll try to keep it vague, but we are venturing into spoiler territory. Please dress appropriately and/or turn back.
Players who have beaten the game (and even some of those who haven't) may already know that the game ends somewhat abruptly. A "Mission 51" summary, full of recorded voiceover, concept art and unfinished cutscenes, is available to view on the bonus disc included with the Collector's Edition of the game. Its existence shows that, whether the decision came from Kojima or elsewhere, more content was planned, but ultimately axed. Mission 51, it seems, was not alone in that.
After digging around through the game's files, Facepunch user "Fredrika" claims to have found a title card for a third chapter of the game, titled "Peace." They also seem to have dug up skin textures for The Boss (not Big Boss, The Boss), a character who should be long dead. It's possible The Boss would have shown up only in a flashback, but this is a universe of clones and nanomachines. Anything's possible.
Maybe one day the speculation and conspiracy theories will end. But not yet. It's not over yet.
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Sam is a former News Editor here at GamesRadar. His expert words have appeared on many of the web's well-known gaming sites, including Joystiq, Penny Arcade, Destructoid, and G4 Media, among others. Sam has a serious soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.