And just as players were still buzzing with surprise and excitement over the announcement released by PixelPioneers Games, another piece of explosive news dropped only a few hours later. Once again, PixelPioneers Games and John's official blog have been updated:
"Metal Gear: Phantom Pain" will soon open pre-orders across all platforms. Players who pre-order at the listed price can enjoy a 15% discount. This discount can also be stacked with the existing 15% discount for "Metal Gear: Ground Zero." The final pre-order price will reflect both discounts combined."
Two 15% discounts stacked together? That was practically unheard of. Players across the community were stunned. Some even thought they had misread it.
"How much does that even save?" Countless players immediately opened their calculators, crunching the numbers with eager anticipation. When the final figure appeared on their screens, many of them froze for a second.
That was all it took to secure a full-fledged AAA masterpiece. Even compared to the earlier price of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, this deal felt unbelievably generous. Considering the scale and production quality of "Metal Gear: Phantom Pain," players were saving a lot of money.
"This is insanely generous! Open the pre-orders already, I'm ready!"
"Discount on top of discount? PixelPioneers Games has lost its mind, in the best way possible!"
"Forget it, I'm buying it no matter what!"
"Say no more, it is already in my library. Now I'm just waiting for Phantom Pain to drop!"
As excitement surged across the community, players weren't just thrilled about the price. The opening of pre-orders signaled something even more important: the development of "Metal Gear: Phantom Pain" was clearly at an advanced stage.
Although John had previously stated during press conferences and blog updates that the game would launch next year, many players couldn't help but speculate. What if it were released earlier? After all, the industry had seen surprise early releases before.
Hope, anticipation, and endless speculation filled forums and social platforms. Everyone was watching closely, waiting for PixelPioneers Games' next move.
At the same time, discussions about the "Metal Gear" series storyline grew increasingly intense. For any intellectual property, audience size and popularity were important, but what truly sustained it was player participation.
A game could begin as something small and unremarkable, yet a single compelling character or plotline could inspire fans to create something entirely new. Mods, fan music, illustrations, fanfiction, these were all part of a thriving ecosystem.
And "Metal Gear," despite being a brand-new IP from PixelPioneers Games, had already begun forming such a foundation. Through strategic promotion, crossovers like "Red Alert," a comic adaptation, and the sheer quality of the game itself, players were given every reason to fall in love with it.
More importantly, they began to feel proud of it. The game they played wasn't just entertainment; it was something meaningful, something impressive, something worth talking about. That sense of pride was what transformed a game into a true cultural phenomenon.
While players eagerly speculated about an early release, John and Luna had already stepped away from the spotlight. After wrapping up the most critical matters at the studio, the two quietly returned to their hometown, bringing their dog along with them.
Preparations for their wedding were steadily progressing. From selecting wedding attire to confirming hotel reservations, everything was being arranged in an orderly manner. They had also begun discussing when to officially register their marriage, as well as planning visits to relatives from both sides of the family.
"So… have you thought about where we should go for the honeymoon?" John asked with a gentle smile, carefully placing an envelope into a side bag.
Neither of them lacked money, of course. But these envelopes came from family members, tokens of tradition and affection. It wouldn't feel right to refuse them. Instead, they chose to accept them with gratitude, planning to repay the kindness in the future.
"I haven't really decided," Luna replied after a moment of thought, shaking her head slightly as she looked at him. In truth, she had always dreamed of visiting famous landmarks around the world. But when it came down to it, the idea of traveling felt strangely exhausting.
"Going out sounds so tiring…" she muttered softly.
John chuckled, "It's fine. We can go anywhere, anytime."
Luna tilted her head playfully."That's exactly why it doesn't matter so much."
John looked at her, his expression softening, "It doesn't matter. This kind of trip… it only happens once in a lifetime."
She hesitated, clearly torn between laziness and desire. After a few seconds of silence, her eyes lit up slightly. "Then… let's go to Hawaii!"
Just as the two were chatting, John's phone suddenly vibrated on the table. He picked it up and glanced at the caller ID. Armani.
A hint of curiosity crossed his face. Before leaving, he had already informed Armani about his schedule, so why the sudden call now?
"Mr. John, you're living the good life, huh?" Armani's voice came through the phone the moment it connected, laced with playful complaint.
After more than a year of working together, their relationship had grown much closer. This kind of casual tone would have been unthinkable in the past. And honestly, John didn't mind it at all.
"Alright, what's going on?" John asked with a faint smile, getting straight to the point.
"There are two main updates," Armani replied. "First, regarding the lawsuit against 'Alien Crisis', we've coordinated with the authorities. The court will officially accept the case."
"Second, the International Annual Game Awards have sent you an invitation. The ceremony will be held at the end of January. Also, you've been nominated for Game Producer of the Year; it'll be announced at the end of this year."
The annual International Game Awards, often considered the gaming industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, had a history spanning over 30 years. It was one of the most prestigious events in the global gaming world.
"I probably won't have time to attend the international ceremony," John said after a brief pause. "Please decline it on my behalf. But I'll attend the other awards."
Truthfully, he did care about the recognition. Under normal circumstances, he would never miss such an event. But right now, there were things in his life that mattered more.
"Got it," Armani replied. Then he added, "Oh, and 'Resident Evil 2' is nearly finished. It should be ready by mid-to-late December. What about your side, how's the progress on the 'Metal Gear' series?"
John coughed lightly, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"There are… special circumstances," he admitted. "Development is still ongoing, but I'll probably need until March or April next year to really push things forward."
After all, while the team could handle most of the workload, the core elements still required his direct involvement.
"Focus on promoting 'Resident Evil 2' first," John continued. "As for 'Metal Gear'… let's put it on hold for now."