Metal Gear Solid 5 iDroid Mobile App, Social Features Discussed By Kojima

While Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is a console game, the experience actually extends to other devices. In a new walkthrough video for Ground Zeroes, series creator Hideo Kojima discussed the mobile and social features of the game.

"For a long time the console was in your living room and the game was confined to that world alone," Kojima said. "Now, we've shattered those boundaries."

During his mission, Snake can use an informational device called the iDroid. The iDroid allows him to see a map of the area or listen to cassette tapes that he finds in his travel. This in-game feature can also be accessed on your smartphone or tablet if you've downloaded the mobile app. You have to be cautious while using your iDroid during the game, though.

"Like with the radio, the game won't pause while you're look at the iDroid. If you're spotted while you're looking at your iDROID, you will be shot. So, players need to be aware of their surroundings at all times and be careful while using the device. Using the app on tablets or smartphones adds a new dimension, since the player themselves will be looking between the terminal in their hands and the action onscreen.Also, the cassette tapes that players find in game can be played on tablets or smartphones within the app. This allows players to review the content whenever they want even when away from the game."

The next-gen consoles also provide new community features. Players can broadcast their gameplay or watch someone else play thanks to the PS4 Share button or Xbox One Twitch app. Kojima says that Ground Zeroes is a natural fit for this sharing because of its open-world gameplay. Players can complete objectives in a variety of ways, and the game reacts to your decisions.

"In an open world, each player will have their own unique way of clearing missions, and can share that experience with others. Players can swap tips or enjoy watching other routes others have discovered, and openly help each other with missions. If 100 people play the same mission, there will be a 100 different stories to tell. These shared experiences bring the game to a truly "open world" experience. By sharing their gameplay, players can continually craft and refine their own strategies. This, above all else, is what I would like to achieve."

Ground Zeroes will launch next week on PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. The game will set up the story for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain while also introducing the new open-world gameplay mechanics. Ground Zeroes is the mere "prologue." Kojima said in the video that the world for Phantom Pain is 200 times larger.