Metal Gear Online just can't get a break, apparently. The game was initially plagued by registration problems and by access issues when the beta was launched by Konami, just before the release of Metal Gear Solid 4. Now the Gene expansion for Metal Gear Online seems to be suffering from a host of problems as it aims to improve the experience that the multiplayer game offers.

Just as the expansion was launched and as Konami set up additional servers to take care of the extra download capacity required, it seemed that the entire digital distribution system began to collapse under the weight of the download demands from the Metal Gear fans. The company introduced random IP class restrictions so that a limited number of people could get the expansion, with the restrictions resetting each hour so that as many as possible would get Gene.

The restrictions did not work as intended and Konami was forced to limit the access of gamers to the Metal Gear Online shop and then issued an apology to all those that experienced difficulties. The Reward Shop was overwhelmed and access was limited to this section, too. Then, users began to experience problems in accessing the in-game menu and there were instances when the game itself would not load. Some people also reported the fact that items bought from the shop were not delivered, even though the payment had been made, while the Surival mode battles planned for the weekend were canceled.

So far, Konami only says that the problems are being looked at and that the game will most likely be playable in its full form during this week.

The Gene Expansion was launched on Thursday and costs 9.99 Euros. It's rather a content update: three new maps, an improved Survival mode, a Reward shop accessible from the game and new character models, some of them female.