If you’re on the verge of shelling out the full recommended retail price for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, we don’t blame you - it’s ace - however, don‘t be too hasty…

That’s because Konami has just announced that Hideo Kojima’s stunning conclusion to the 26.5 million-selling Metal Gear series is about to be made part of the el-cheapo PS3 Platinum range. In other words why spend the better part of £50 when you can wait a few weeks and pick the game up for the equivalent of 29.95 Euros instead? That’ll be £19.99 or less if MGS4 falls in line with other Platinum titles. Bargain!

That’s for the whole package too - the aging (but still agile) Solid Snake’s globe-spanning adventure, full and unexpurgated, plus the enduringly excellent Metal Gear Online, which drops players into a series of war zones with a choice of protect/rescue/all-out argy-bargy-type objectives with/versus other likeminded fools. Good news regarding the latter too - Kojima Productions remains committed to keeping the online game updated with new gameplay content.

So there it is, and all for a super-discount Platinum price too - it’d almost be rude not to. March 5th is the date for your diaries.