What Konami Changed in Metal Gear Solid 4 on Switch and Switch 2

Konami’s long-awaited port of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots makes a few conspicuous changes on Nintendo hardware. The Switch and Switch 2 editions remove or replace several PlayStation references that were woven into the original game, while a famous codec joke has been modernized for every version of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2.

The edits are confirmed by platform comparisons and contemporary reporting. Their reason is not. Neither Konami nor Nintendo has publicly said that Nintendo ordered the changes, so claims of a formal Nintendo request remain speculation.

Which PlayStation references changed on Switch?

The most visible edits affect in-game hardware associated with Sony:

• The PlayStation 3 seen aboard the Nomad and Sunny’s PSP were replaced with generic, non-branded devices in the Nintendo editions.
• Snake’s DualShock 3 controller, used in connection with the Mk. II, was replaced by a Kerotan frog-themed alternative.
• These substitutions appear to be specific to the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions. Reports indicate that the original PlayStation hardware branding remains in the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC builds. 6

That matters because the hardware was not merely background decoration in MGS4. The original game used its PS3 setting for fourth-wall jokes and product placement, making the console part of the game’s identity.

Otacon’s disc-swapping joke was rewritten everywhere

The best-known change is not exclusive to Nintendo. During the return to Shadow Moses, Otacon repeats the original Metal Gear Solid disc-swapping gag. In the 2008 PS3 release, he realizes that Snake does not need to change discs because the game is running on a dual-layer Blu-ray disc.

In Master Collection Vol. 2, the joke has been adapted with newly recorded or revised lines. Rather than always referring to the PlayStation 3, Otacon now references the platform running the collection. Reports describe versions mentioning systems such as PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, while the Switch 2 wording is generalized to a “high-spec platform.” 7812

The punchline therefore survives, but its original PS3-specific setup no longer does. This is a cross-platform modernization, not simply a Nintendo censorship edit.

Why were the Nintendo versions altered?

There is no confirmed public explanation. The most cautious interpretation is that the Nintendo editions went through a separate branding, licensing or platform-approval review. However, that is an inference—not a statement from Konami or Nintendo.

The evidence does not establish that Nintendo demanded the removals. It only shows that the versions differ. Early reporting also found inconsistencies in the collection’s online manual, including an update that appeared to restore the PS3 image in Nintendo-version materials. 4 That makes the documentation less definitive than direct comparisons of the released game assets.

It is also too strong to describe the changes as a complete removal of all PlayStation references from MGS4. The reported edits concern specific visual assets, while the rest of the game’s content and structure remain centered on the same story and scenes.

Did the changes hurt the collection’s reception?

So far, there is no evidence that they did. Master Collection Vol. 2 launched on August 27, 2026, bringing MGS4 to modern platforms for the first time since its 2008 PS3 release. Konami’s launch announcement lists Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam among the supported platforms. 5

Critics responded primarily to the significance and quality of the port itself. Metacritic listed an 85 average from 30 critic reviews, while OpenCritic listed an 83 Top Critic Average and an 88% recommendation rate. 3637

Reviews did notice the unusual platform-specific alterations, but the main conversation focused on finally making MGS4 widely playable, along with the collection’s technical presentation and included games. The available reporting does not provide verified sales figures or platform-by-platform sales data, so it is too early to connect the visual edits to commercial performance.

The practical takeaway

The Switch and Switch 2 versions of MGS4 are not identical to the original PS3 presentation. They replace the visible PS3, PSP and DualShock 3 references with generic or Kerotan-themed substitutes, while the famous Otacon disc joke has been rewritten for the modern multi-platform release.

The changes are real, but the explanation remains unconfirmed. For now, the most accurate description is a platform-specific branding adjustment—not a proven Nintendo mandate—and the edits have not overshadowed the collection’s broadly positive critical reception.