SNK has confirmed that its iconic 2D run-and-gun game will undergo a reboot, finally putting an end to the long-awaited arrival of a new Metal Slug game. The announcement was made through a new video released to commemorate the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
The video in itself primarily features clips from the classic Metal Slug games. The trailer concludes with the messages “Mission Reboot” and “A New Mission Awaits.” In addition to the video, SNK launched a dedicated Metal Slug 30th anniversary website, stating, “To celebrate 30 years of Metal Slug action, we’re reigniting and rebooting the series with a wide range of exciting projects — including new ventures in gaming”. This means SNK might not stop at Metal Slug, and we might be seeing more returning projects.
Is The New Metal Slug Game A Reboot Or A Remaster?
SNK has not specified what these “new ventures” will entail, leaving open the possibility of either a sequel or a remaster for Metal Slug. The franchise’s return after a prolonged hiatus has brought back the old itch of running and gunning through hordes of enemies like the years of yore. Over the past decade, SNK has worked to revive its acclaimed franchises, including The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and Fatal Fury. Although Dotemu released Metal Slug Tactics in 2023, SNK’s last officially numbered mainline game, excluding re-releases and mobile titles, was Metal Slug 7 in 2008.
An official X account for the series has also been created, sharing the trailer and new artwork celebrating the 30th anniversary, created by SNK’s character designer Naohisa Yamaguchi. It might be best for the series if the new Metal Slug game is a modernized sequel rather than another remaster. Countless games have taken inspiration from SNK’s titular series, and it may be time for Metal Slug to do the same and possibly expand the horizons of the already well-aged genre.
