In May, someone posted Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty's source code online, and publisher Konami is suing over it. The lawsuit, filed on June 2 in a California court, is a way for Konami and its lawyers to uncover who stole and leaked the source code, then punish them for it.
Source code for multiple versions of the game was published on 4chan, made available through two file-sharing websites. Konami said in the lawsuit that the files included source code for Metal Gear Solid 2 and its "non-public assets." The company sent cease-and-desists to 4chan and the file-sharing sites to get the source code taken down. They've been removed from the original file-sharing websites, Konami said, but the damage has already been done. "An urgent need remains to uncover the source of the leak and to ensure that similar or further public disclosures do not occur," lawyers wrote in the complaint, obtained by Aftermath. Konami did an internal investigation, but was not able to identify the leaker, according to court documents.
Konami also demanded that the file-sharing sites and 4chan "retain and segregate any data that would be useful for identifying the persons responsible for uploading or otherwise disseminating Konami's content," according to the lawsuit. The three sites removed the links, but have not provided any information regarding the identity of the leaker. Konami has not been able to subpoena the two file-sharing websites, and filed for permission to serve the companies subpoenas by email; that was denied without prejudice, because the judge found that Konami lawyers didn't provide enough evidence to show they've done due diligence in looking for contact information, like a physical address. Konami lawyers can file the application again, if they choose.
Metal Gear Solid 2 was released in 2001, written and produced by Hideo Kojima. Though it's 25 years old, it remains one of the more influential video games of all time. Its source code being posted online is a big deal for Konami and Metal Gear Solid enthusiasts. Konami, of course, wants to protect its prized game, and fans want to see under the hood. And Metal Gear Solid enthusiasts have been doing just that: There are files for cut scenes, including some that were slashed after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City, because the game included "both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon," Kojima said in an interview in 2022.
Modders are "digging through everything," community group Metal Gear Network posted on X. "This could mean restoring cut content, uncovering unseen material, and gaining a much deeper understanding of how the game was built. On top of that, it gives the community more tools to preserve and refine these games going forward."
