- Metal Slug Ultimate Collection was announced on September 9, 2026, with a planned release after 2026.
- Included games span the main arcade series, Metal Slug Advance, Metal Slug 7, and a location test build.
- Confirmed platforms are PlayStation 5 and Switch 2, based on the available announcement details.
- Key features include online co-op, score attack, time attack leaderboards, and a gallery mode.
- New project: SNK also teased another Metal Slug game, but details remain undisclosed.
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection release overview
The Metal Slug Ultimate Collection release is one of the major retro-game announcements from September 2026. SNK revealed the collection during a Nintendo Direct presentation and confirmed a PlayStation 5 version through the accompanying announcement trailer. The package is being developed by M2, a studio recognized for retro re-releases and preservation-focused projects.
The currently published release information places the collection beyond 2026. A specific day and month have not been announced in the available details, so fans should treat the launch timing as a broad window rather than a finalized schedule.
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Collection | Metal Slug Ultimate Collection |
| Announcement date | September 9, 2026 |
| Release timing | Planned after 2026 |
| Publisher | SNK |
| Developer | M2 |
| Confirmed systems | PlayStation 5, Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action, shooter |
| Local player listing | Two players |
Watch for a full launch date, edition details, and purchase information before treating any retailer listing as final.
The collection’s main appeal is its breadth. Instead of focusing only on the best-known arcade releases, it brings together several numbered entries, a handheld title, and a rarely available development build. That makes the package relevant both to longtime arcade fans and players discovering the series for the first time.
The announcement was covered by Push Square’s Metal Slug Ultimate Collection report, which also lists the collection’s primary features and game lineup.
Included games and preservation highlights
The confirmed lineup contains ten entries. It covers Metal Slug through Metal Slug 7, while also adding Metal Slug Advance and the Metal Slug Location Test Build. The latter is particularly notable because the announcement describes it as the first console release of that build.
| Included title | Format or era | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Slug | Arcade series | Establishes the original run-and-gun formula |
| Metal Slug 2 | Arcade series | Expands the classic arcade lineup |
| Metal Slug X | Arcade series | Included as a distinct collection entry |
| Metal Slug 3 | Arcade series | Part of the original numbered classics |
| Metal Slug 4 | Arcade series | Extends the main arcade sequence |
| Metal Slug 5 | Arcade series | Continues the arcade collection |
| Metal Slug Advance | Handheld entry | Adds a portable series installment |
| Metal Slug 6 | Arcade series | Brings a later arcade release into the package |
| Metal Slug 7 | Later series entry | Gives the collection broader series coverage |
| Location Test Build | Development version | Officially preserves a previously unavailable console build |
Arcade foundation
The collection includes the original Metal Slug and the numbered arcade entries through Metal Slug 7.
Portable history
Metal Slug Advance adds a handheld perspective that is separate from the main arcade sequence.
Rare preservation
The Location Test Build is the standout archival feature and is planned for its first console release.
Series coverage
The lineup combines familiar classics with less commonly accessible entries for a wider historical view.
The Location Test Build gives the collection archival value beyond a standard compilation of commonly reissued arcade games.
The lineup does have a defined scope. The announcement confirms the ten listed titles, but it does not confirm every Metal Slug spin-off or handheld release. It also does not provide details about additional downloadable content, unreleased prototypes beyond the named build, or future lineup expansions.
Modes and features confirmed so far
M2 is handling the collection, and the announced feature set focuses on both multiplayer access and score-focused replayability. Online co-op is confirmed, alongside score and time attack modes with leaderboards. A gallery mode is also planned, with additional features mentioned but not fully detailed.
| Feature | Status | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Online co-op | Confirmed | Play supported action stages with another player online |
| Score attack | Confirmed | Replay stages with an emphasis on high scores |
| Time attack | Confirmed | Compete for faster stage clear times |
| Leaderboards | Confirmed | Compare score and time results |
| Gallery mode | Confirmed | Review collection-related visual material |
| Additional features | Mentioned, not detailed | Await a later feature breakdown |
Choose your starting entry
Begin with Metal Slug, Metal Slug X, or another familiar title to learn the collection’s core run-and-gun rhythm.
Practice before chasing rankings
Use standard play to learn enemy patterns, vehicle sections, weapon pickups, and stage routes before attempting score or time goals.
Add cooperative sessions
Move to online co-op once you understand the basic pacing. Coordinate movement and target priority instead of rushing independently.
Select a ranking objective
Choose score attack for point optimization or time attack for route efficiency. Track one goal at a time to make improvement easier.
Review the gallery and lineup
Explore the gallery mode and compare the arcade, handheld, and location test entries as part of the collection’s historical presentation.
Online co-op and leaderboard support are announced features, but connection requirements, ranking rules, and available settings have not been detailed.
For a strong first session, avoid treating every mode as a separate game. The same fundamentals—movement control, enemy recognition, weapon conservation, and route familiarity—should support standard play, co-op, score attack, and time attack. Learning a stage safely first usually creates a better foundation for later rankings.
How to prepare for the collection
Because the collection includes both well-known classics and less familiar entries, preparation should focus on flexible arcade habits rather than a single preferred title. Newcomers can use the original game as an introduction, while returning fans may want to compare the different entries and investigate the location test build.
| Player type | Recommended starting focus | Primary goal |
|---|---|---|
| New to Metal Slug | Original Metal Slug | Learn movement, shooting, jumping, and rescue timing |
| Arcade veteran | Metal Slug 3 or Metal Slug X | Revisit demanding routes and optimize execution |
| Portable-history fan | Metal Slug Advance | Explore how the series translates to a handheld entry |
| Completion-focused player | Full ten-game lineup | Play each confirmed title and compare their design differences |
| Competitive player | Score and time attack | Build repeatable routes for leaderboard attempts |
Learn the rhythm
Metal Slug rewards deliberate movement, quick reactions, and careful attention to enemy placement.
Compare versions
Treat each included title as its own historical entry instead of assuming every game plays identically.
Build a ranking plan
Start with one stage, one mode, and one measurable target before expanding leaderboard attempts.
Preparation checklist:
- Review the ten confirmed collection entries
- Choose one arcade title as a first session
- Decide whether co-op, score attack, or time attack is the main goal
- Check future platform and edition announcements
- Wait for final release-date and feature details
Approach the package as both a playable anthology and a preservation release. The location test build is a reason to explore beyond the most familiar classics.
No final purchase price, physical edition, preorder schedule, or complete technical specification is confirmed in the available announcement details. Those items should remain open questions until SNK, M2, or an authorized retailer publishes more information.
Release checklist and FAQ
The best way to follow the Metal Slug Ultimate Collection release is to separate confirmed information from future announcements. The collection, publisher, developer, lineup, platforms, and headline features are known. A precise launch date and several technical details still require official confirmation.
| Information category | Confirmed now | Still to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher and developer | SNK and M2 | No further studio details announced |
| Collection lineup | Ten listed titles | Whether more content will be added |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 | Availability on other systems |
| Multiplayer | Online co-op announced | Matchmaking, regions, and connection settings |
| Competitive modes | Score attack, time attack, leaderboards | Ranking filters and record rules |
| Release timing | Planned after 2026 | Exact day, month, and regional schedule |
| New Metal Slug game | Teased by SNK | Title, platform, genre details, and release timing |
Q: When is the Metal Slug Ultimate Collection release?
The collection was announced on September 9, 2026, with launch planned after 2026. A specific release day and month have not been confirmed in the available details.
Q: Which games are included in Metal Slug Ultimate Collection?
The confirmed lineup includes Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4, Metal Slug 5, Metal Slug Advance, Metal Slug 6, Metal Slug 7, and the Metal Slug Location Test Build.
Q: What platforms are confirmed?
PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 are confirmed in the announcement information currently available.
Q: Does the collection include online multiplayer?
Yes. Online co-op is announced, along with score attack, time attack, leaderboards, and a gallery mode. Detailed online settings have not yet been published.
Bookmark official SNK and M2 announcements, then compare any retailer information against confirmed platform and release details.
SNK has also mentioned that a brand-new Metal Slug game is in development. The announcement provides no substantial details about that project, so it should be tracked separately from the collection. Until more information arrives, the confirmed ten-game lineup and its announced modes remain the clearest guide to what this release offers.