Metal Gear Online is a dedicated online title released with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, an exclusive title for PS3, which took the market by storm on its release in June. Featuring characters, weaponry and levels taken from and inspired by Metal Gear Solid 4, Metal Gear Online allows up to 16 people to play simultaneously. The online game retains the famed stealth combat gameplay of the Metal Gear series, players are dropped in a series of war zones wherein different challenges await.

The new Metal Gear Online Gene Expansion enhancement will be available to download via Metal Gear Online's built-in store from July 17th, and is priced 9,99 Euro. The download adds a number of key features to the basic game, including new three new maps. 'Coppertown Conflict' boasts wide, open streets, 'Tomb of Tubes' is a labyrinth of underground passages, while 'Virtuous Vista is a sprawling outdoor locale, and ideally suited to medium and long-range combat techniques.

A new 'Survival' mode has also been added, wherein players are charged with staying alive for as long as possible within a series of increasingly challenging stages, while a Reward Shop has been added wherein accrued points can be traded for new gear. The new add-on also added Metal Gear Solid 4 heroes Meryl and Johnny to the list of playable characters, both of whom enjoy unique skills, and will be randomly allocated to players when their use is enabled. Finally, Kojima Productions has also added the ability to create female soldiers for those creating new characters.

"Konami is committed to the evolution of Metal Gear Online, and this first expansion pack illustrates the ways the game can be enhanced with new stages, characters and modes," commented Christopher Heck, European Brand Manager for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. "The new update represents terrific value for money, and will be followed by additional add-ons in the coming months designed to keep Metal Gear Online fans enthralled with the new possibilities they will bring."