SNK has confirmed that Metal Slug Ultimate Collection will receive a physical edition following a strong response to the collection’s announcement.
In a message to the Metal Slug community, SNK thanked fans for their overwhelming support and said the response to the collection had gone far beyond what the team expected. The developer also highlighted the feedback surrounding a physical release, which appears to have been one of the most frequently discussed topics since the collection was revealed.
That feedback has now resulted in an official confirmation: a physical edition of Metal Slug Ultimate Collection is on the way. SNK did not provide details on the release date, platforms, contents, or which company will handle the physical release, instead asking fans to wait for more information in the future.
The announcement also addresses another major talking point surrounding the collection: the absence of Metal Slug XX.
According to SNK, the game is not included due to a variety of circumstances that ultimately led the team to make the decision to leave it out of the collection for now. The Metal Slug team acknowledged that many fans have been disappointed by its omission and added that it is also disappointed that the game could not be included this time around.
However, that does not necessarily mean Metal Slug XX is off the table permanently. SNK says it is continuing to explore ways to bring Metal Slug XX to players in some form in the future, although it has not announced what that release might look like or when it could happen.
For now, the physical edition confirmation gives Metal Slug fans another reason to keep an eye on the collection, while those hoping to see Metal Slug XX return will have to wait for further news from SNK. The company closed its message by emphasizing that its work on the Metal Slug series is far from over, with the team continuing to work toward its future plans.