Preview Images of the Official Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Strategy Guides

Standard and Collector’s Editions

In August 2015, new preview images for the official Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain strategy guides appeared on a retail listing from Amazon Germany. The photos offered a closer look at both the standard softcover version and the premium hardcover Collector’s Edition. Published by Piggyback, a company known for its detailed game guides, both books were designed to be comprehensive companions for players tackling the massive open-world stealth game.

The Collector’s Edition was presented as the definitive version for dedicated fans of the series. Beyond its durable hardcover binding, it included exclusive bonus content not found in the standard edition. The newly revealed images provided the first clear look at these extras, which were intended to appeal to collectors and long-time followers of the franchise. Both guides were scheduled to launch alongside the game, ensuring players would have access to a complete resource from day one.

Exclusive Yoji Shinkawa Lithograph

The main exclusive item for the Collector’s Edition was a lithograph featuring artwork from Yoji Shinkawa, the lead artist and character designer for the Metal Gear Solid series. Shinkawa’s distinct, ink-wash style is synonymous with the franchise’s aesthetic, making his art highly sought after by fans. The preview images showcased this art print, confirming it as a high-quality collectible for enthusiasts. This addition positioned the Collector’s Edition not just as a guide, but as a piece of memorabilia celebrating the game’s artistic direction.

This kind of physical bonus was a common practice for collector’s editions of major game releases, and Piggyback’s inclusion of an exclusive art piece from such a central creative figure was a significant selling point. For players who appreciated the unique visual identity of Metal Gear Solid, the lithograph was a major draw for the higher-priced edition.

Map Poster and Guide Contents

Also shown in the preview photos was a large, foldable poster. One side of the poster featured a detailed map of the game’s world. The Phantom Pain was the first game in the series to feature a large-scale open-world environment, and the poster was meant to highlight the impressive size of the playable areas in Afghanistan and Africa. A physical map would serve as a practical tool for planning infiltration routes and locating points of interest without having to pause the game.

While the images only provided a glimpse of the interior pages, Piggyback guides have a reputation for being exhaustive. The book was expected to contain complete walkthroughs for every story mission and side op, strategies for boss encounters, and detailed information on weapons, items, and the Mother Base management system. The guide was promoted as a resource for completionists aiming to uncover every secret and achieve a 100% completion rank.

Piggyback and Konami Partnership

Piggyback developed the guides in close collaboration with the game’s developer, Kojima Productions, and publisher, Konami. This partnership was not new; Piggyback had created the official guides for previous major installments in the series, including Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and the spin-off title Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. This long-standing relationship ensured the guide’s content would be accurate and comprehensive, containing information straight from the development team.

The release date for both the standard and collector’s editions of the guide was set for September 1, 2015, in both North America and Europe. This date coincided exactly with the worldwide launch of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.