Ruptures of design: Trophies, live service games and anti-nuclear metacommentary in Metal Gear Solid V

Abstract

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (MGSV) allowed players to build and/or disarm nuclear devices as a part of its live service base-building gameplay with the intention of mimicking the real-world difficulties of nuclear disarmament. Building and disarming nuclear devices in the game was further encouraged by developers through the design of two PlayStation trophies along with the promise of a secret cut-scene if players managed to eradicate all nuclear weapons on their online server. However, due to an alleged programming error it became impossible for players to actually achieve this goal. This article examines the design of the aforementioned trophies and their relationship with in-game nuclear disarmament, highlighting the larger significance of the trophy design and how the metacommentary (i.e., anti-nuclear narrative) of MGSV was undermined by metagaming practices (i.e., unlocking trophies, optimizing gameplay) and a live service business model focused on player retention and profit.