The full source code for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has leaked online.
The files, posted to 4chan, reportedly include the raw, uncompressed source code for “every version up to [the PS] Vita”, as well as “30+GB of assets, including unused stuff”.
Already, fans are building wishlists of what modders could do with access to the source code, including new POVs, VR, raytracing, co-op, or even restoring deleted cut-scenes (although it’s unclear if this is possible given the code seems to be from the later HD version, not the 2001 original).
As some fans have noticed, the date of the leak – 30th April – is particularly significant to the game’s story
In a further coincidence, the code for the HD version was created by remaster experts Bluepoint, which Sony closed down in March. Some are speculating that the code was therefore intentionally leaked in retaliation, or perhaps someone carelessly discarded a hard drive.
This isn’t, of course, the first huge game to have its source code leaked – Far Cry and GTA 5 are just two recent examples – but in some instances, the studios themselves distribute the code willingly, including Valve, which shared the full source code to Team Fortress 2, and classic Command & Conquer games have also shared code with the community.