14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that the development team at Kojima Productions and publisher Konami have decided to put an important section of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain behind a paywall, basically asking gamers to pay to unlock full functionality.
The full version of the game has been in the hands of some players for a while now and Gamespot is reporting that the Forward Operating Base, which allows gamers to use resources to develop new bases, is not initially accessible.
Those who own Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will have to get access to more MB Coins in order to unlock the experience, and they can be obtained using real-world money.
At the moment, the online services have not been activated by Konami, which means that gamers will have to wait for the official launch to get the full picture about the Forward Operating Base and other associated mechanics.
An official from the company also explains that the details about the mode are still being solidified, which is somewhat surprising considering that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is supposed to be officially launched on September 1 on a variety of platforms.
It's still possible that Konami will change the business model for FOB in the coming seven-day period in order to appease fans.
Forward Operating Base is optional in the new Kojima title
The mode is designed to appeal to gamers who want a multiplayer-focused experience that encourages solid use of resources.
The full Metal Gear Online game has been delayed to October 6 on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One and to early 2016 on the PC.
Given the way Konami is using real-world money transactions for the FOB mode, it is highly likely that a similar model will be used for it, although no clear statements have been made so far.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the final title in the series as it currently stands and the last one on which Hideo Kojima will work, given his relatively public split with Konami.
It would be a shame for the legacy of the title to be tainted by a move clearly designed to extract more money from the most dedicated of fans.