Confirmed: Kojima is working on Metal Gear Solid 5

While not the most surprising news, we can finally put an end to the rumors and speculation about Metal Gear Solid 5—it’s been confirmed by none other than Hideo Kojima, the mind behind the Metal Gear Solid franchise.

Speaking to the Official PlayStation Magazine UK, Kojima discusses plans for Metal Gear Solid Rising, and confirms that he is in some way working on Metal Gear Solid 5. However, it is unknown if he is reprising his role as game director, or just standing back from a producer’s point of view.

Does this mean that the character Kojima-san has been working so hard to kill off is coming back? Is Solid Snake on the horizon in the next Metal Gear Solid game, or will we see a new series protagonist? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition detailed

GameStop’s got the skinny on Mass Effect 3’s meaty U.S. Collector’s Edition release, which will be available for PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360 for $80.

According to a video on the retailer’s website, the CE features exclusive “bonus squad appearances” for Ashley Williams, Liara T’Soni, James Vega and Kaidan Alenko, as well as a “classified” bonus character and mission, details of which are currently unknown.

Have a butcher’s at the full contents of the CE below.

-Premium metal case featuring male and female Commander Shepard.

-Premium 70-page hardbound art book.

-Limited edition Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics.

-Fabric N7 patch.

-Exclusive 4x6 lithographic print of the SR-2 Alliance Normandy.

-Additional in-game content including.

-N7 Arsenal Pack - Bring the firepower with the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.

-Squad alternate appearance pack.

-Robotic Dog for on board the Normandy.

-Mass Effect 3 digital soundtrack.

F1 2011 crashing into Vita launch lineup

Is your life like F1 racing itself? Are you moving too quickly, too dangerously to sit down on the couch and indulge in an F1 racing simulation? Good news then, as Codemasters has announced that F1 2011 will be released in time for thelaunch of PlayStation Vita on February 22, making it just the thing for the racing fan on the go.

The game features plenty of single-player modes, full support for online and local multiplayer and, presumably, lots of pointy cars. Check out a new trailer above.

Metal Gear Solid: Rising gets new producer

Team members at Kojima Productions continue to play Hot Potato with poor Raiden's emotions. After Kojima announced in June of 2010 that he was passing the reigns of Metal Gear Solid: Rising to Shigenobu Matsuyama, control has now passed to Yuji Korekado (who's also working on Zone of the Enders HD). The news was confirmed via the Twitter feed of Kojima Productions producer Kenichiro Imaizumi.

The announcement raises a lot of pressing questions, not the least of which are these: "Joystiq, how did you spell all those names correctly on the first try and without any sort of reference material?" Please, please. We appreciate the flattery, but we're professionals. This is what we do.

With any luck, we'll have a better idea of the direction Korekado is taking the game when it's shown off at this year's VGAs.