All good things must come to an end, and that extends to the world of video games. Unfortunately for those that are still logging on to Metal Gear Solid 5’s online component for the PS3 and Xbox 360, the game’s servers will begin to be gradually shut down, Konami has announced. However, fans still have a bit of time to engage with it before it’s gone for good.An update on the Konami website has outlined when the servers will be turned off, with the company disabling some functionality between now and then. Starting today, Xbox 360 and PS3 players will no longer be able to use the Purchase System. Then in November, Metal Gear Online’s DLC will no longer be available for purchase. Finally, on May 31, 2022, the servers will be shut down for good.It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Metal Gear Solid 5’s servers are being turned off permanently. While it’s by no means a small game, September 1 will be the game’s sixth birthday, which is a considerable amount of time for a single player-oriented game to maintain its online element. Plus, this is just for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, which likely don’t have massive player bases considering the platforms’ age.
Konami didn’t provide any indication of when the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game will be disabled, so fans on those platforms are safe for now. Considering that the two consoles boast massive install bases, they’ll likely be left on for a good while longer, but it’s difficult to pin down when exactly that will be.Server shutdowns, unfortunately, are a part of every online game’s lifecycle. While it’s always disappointing to see them go, mostly because of the memories they often have attached to them, it’s usually the result of a dwindling player base, which makes it nonsensical for developers to leave the servers running.Of course, fans will try and save servers from time to time. A perfect example is the Xbox 360’s Halo servers, which fans have worked to keep alive, despite them closing at the end of the year. There are even ongoing projects to bring back the original Xbox’s Xbox Live functionality, which may breathe some life back into the system. It’s impossible to say if Metal Gear Solid 5 will – or even can – get the same treatment, but surely someone out there would appreciate it.Metal Gear Solid 5’s PS3 and Xbox 360 servers will be shut down on May 31, 2022.Source: Konami