It’s Metal Gear Solid, without the Solid. And now with added Survive! But with a whole lot less Hideo Kojima. Yes, it’s Metal Gear Survive, a meh name for a potentially eh? game, and Konami has just announced that it’s coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC on 20 February 2018.

Let’s face it, there’s a lot riding on the success of this Metal Gear Solid spin-off for Konami – one of gaming’s most revered franchises is about to take a hard detour and it’s looking risky. Metal Gear without Kojima is like The Beatles without John. Or some other reference which today’s kids will understand. Okay, it’s like Rick and Morty without Rick or Morty. For one thing, the storyline for Metal Gear Survive is a little shaky, like it was an exercise in AI authoring. The leftovers from MGS V have been sucked into an alternate reality strewn with zombies with glowing crystal face stumps, and now your team of soldiers need to find a way home? Forgive me if I don’t hit that pre-order button just yet.

Still, there’s something alluring about the co-op aspect, and the crafting, survival and base defence elements could end up a unique combination. It’s definitely got a distinctive feel about it. Konami has four months left to convince us that their vision for the Metal Gear brand is strong, even without Kojima in control.