I think there's been some misconceptions that [Metal Gear Solid 4] is the last Metal Gear," said associate director Ryan Payton in an interview with MTV Multiplayer. "This is really just the last chapter of the saga of the Solid Snake story."
Last Friday, series creator Hideo Kojima carefully stated that
Metal Gear Solid 4 would be the "final episode of Solid Snake,"
giving rise to improbable rumors that Konami would suddenly terminate all future development of one of its biggest money makers.
"[Solid Snake] was a burden [for Kojima] because of all those loose ends," concluded Payton in the same interview. "So when you play Metal Gear Solid 4, and when you get to the end, I think you're going to feel that 'wow, this is a nice closure.' All of the weird stuff that's gone on in the past, it's all coming to an end."
