SNK has officially announced Metal Slug Ultimate Collection, a new compilation launching in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. Revealed during Nintendo’s September 9 Direct, the collection brings together nine major Metal Slug releases alongside the rare location-test version of the original game. SNK has not yet announced a specific release date or price.
The lineup covers most of the core run-and-gun series from its arcade beginnings through the late 2000s. Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4, Metal Slug 5, Metal Slug Advance, Metal Slug 6 and Metal Slug 7 are all included. The tenth entry is the location-test version of the first Metal Slug, giving players access to a particularly unusual piece of the franchise’s development history.
M2 is handling the collection’s emulation work. The studio is known for recreating classic arcade and console titles while preserving behavior from original hardware, and SNK says the games are being reproduced with their original feel intact. The collection also adds modern conveniences including Quick Save and Load, rewind functionality and customizable display and sound settings.
Online functionality is a major part of the package as well. Supported games will include two-player online cooperative play, allowing players to work through stages with friends or other players over the internet. Online rankings will track performance across modes such as Score Attack and Speed Run, while replay functionality will allow players to review runs and compare strategies.
Combat School is also returning as part of Metal Slug Ultimate Collection. The mode has traditionally given players additional objectives and challenges outside the standard arcade campaigns, and SNK says the new collection expands that concept with more content. A gallery and museum section will provide another layer of archival material, including artwork, logos and other pieces drawn from the series’ history.
Those additions make Ultimate Collection more than a straightforward bundle of ROMs. Rewind, save states, online co-op, rankings and archival material are designed to make games originally built around arcade conventions easier to revisit on modern hardware. SNK notes that available modes and features can vary between individual games, so not every included title will necessarily support the complete feature set.
Metal Slug itself debuted in arcades in 1996 and became known for detailed pixel animation, destructible environments, exaggerated military hardware and fast side-scrolling gunplay. The series expanded through a succession of sequels while retaining its distinctive visual style, with players moving through compact stages, rescuing prisoners, collecting weapons and commandeering vehicles including the series’ signature Metal Slug tank.
The new compilation also arrives as SNK celebrates Metal Slug’s 30th anniversary. Earlier in 2026, the company launched a dedicated anniversary initiative and said it intended to reinvigorate the franchise through multiple projects, including new games. Ultimate Collection now forms part of that wider push by packaging much of the series’ classic history into one modern release.
Metal Slug Advance is a particularly notable inclusion because it represents one of the series’ portable entries rather than another direct arcade conversion. Originally released for Game Boy Advance in 2004, it adapted Metal Slug’s core run-and-gun design for handheld hardware while introducing its own structure and mechanics. Its presence alongside Metal Slug 1 through 7 helps the compilation cover a broader portion of the franchise than collections focused exclusively on arcade releases.
SNK plans to release Metal Slug Ultimate Collection in both physical and digital formats in 2027, although regional availability and edition details have not yet been fully outlined. Pricing also remains unconfirmed, and the company has not provided a narrower launch window.
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection will be available for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. With nine established series entries, the original location-test version and a range of modern emulation and online features, the collection is positioned as SNK’s most comprehensive Metal Slug retrospective to date.
