Konami has revealed a new mission for the single-player mode of the game Metal Gear Solid Delta. The mission is called Fox Hunt and it is very inviting to the players who can’t help but try to decode it. A tweet from the official Metal Gear account included a cryptic image and the instructions “Find the hidden player!” which led the players to the keras of detectives. The community is busy with the first mission teaser locating the disguised soldier just one week before the Fox Hunt launch.
When players are shown the detailed jungle environment, they can make out wooden boxes, trees, and rocky terrain – all of which have been the classic Metal Gear spots for hiding. The only issue remains: where is the crafty soldier hiding? Players split into camps for and against the judging by replies to the original post, with the estimates going from one concealed player to five. Some spotted him instantly, others are still viewing the screens squinting their eyes.
One of the players named Cosmic #dothack initially thought that he had found the hidden soldier but was corrected by Big Boss❗️ who told them “U missed one 😅”. The interactions between the players show how challenging the spotting game can be. A user named Ghost_Wolf commented on the camouflage itself, noting “the boxes aren’t really the smartest place to hide as the ghillie suit shows up against the wall” and also quoting the classic Metal Gear rule of “not standing up to avoid being seen”.
Most of the guesses made point to the right side of the image close to the door behind the wooden boxes where many users including Giorgos Lioudakis and Cole have pointed out this spot. Enrique, on the other hand, wrote in Spanish about potentially three hidden players – one under the left tree, another next to the wooden boxes and door, and the third one in the clear left area on a little pile of rocks. The translation indicates how large the Metal Gear fanbase is and how diverse everyone’s interpretation of the image is.
On the other side, some players are already thinking of what they want from the full release of Fox Hunt along with this teaser. WildstyleKilla mentioned that “Crossplay is needed for longevity” while CyclopMummy warned, “We will require more than 2 game modes and 3-4 maps to prevent redundancy.” Goji-Kun particularly asked for “Add 120fps for PC” showing that technical features are as much of a concern as the gameplay itself.
What is interesting is that a simple “find the hidden player” mission has set off detailed analysis and community interaction. Players are not only looking at the picture but they are pointing out specific areas, talking about the power of the camouflage and they are already considering the mode’s lifespan. This level of involvement indicates that Fox Hunt might turn out to be a major success when it is launched next week.
The Metal Gear franchise has always revolved around stealth and detection which is exactly what made the Fox Hunt teaser so well suited for the franchise. Instead of merely presenting the players with gameplay through shots, Konami enforced the careful observation that is characteristic of Metal Gear on the players. It’s a clever marketing strategy that draws the community together rather than having it watch from afar.
Some users, like Bill Aegean, went even further and shared their guesses with marked images, turning the hunt into a group effort. The different arguments like “There’s only one” and “There’s like 5” demonstrate that no one sees things the same way. What is totally obvious to one gamer can be completely unnoticed by another, and in fact, this gives Fox Hunt the potential of having great replay value.
As the launch date approaches, the excitement does not fade. Metal Gear fans openly display their craving for the new mode through the discussions about the hidden player as well as feature requests. The quintessential stealth gameplay accompanied by what seems to be a spotting/hunting mechanism could be just what the community has been waiting for while sitting tight for more news about the Metal Gear Solid Delta.
Whether there is one concealed soldier or five in that picture, it is evident that the players are ready for a hunt. The one-week countdown has begun and if this initial mission is any indication, Fox Hunt may well be the next major player in the Metal Gear multiplayer universe. Pardon me for a second, but I need to take a look at that picture again because I am pretty much sure I saw another one hiding near the tree roots. Or was it just a shadow? It’s harder than it appears! The mission is also available on PlayStation and Xbox.
