As part of its pre-E3 show, Metal Gear series creator Hideo Kojima revealed actor Kiefer Sutherland is the new voice of Snake for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

Sutherland is best known for portraying Jack Bauer on the long-running TV show 24. He was pretty sweet in The Lost Boys, too.

One of the reasons Sutherland may have been chosen to portray Snake is the game’s reliance on performance capture for the role.

The previous voice of Snake, David Hayter, tried to take change in sarcastic stride on Twitter.

“Can't fault [Kiefer], “ said Hayter. “Great actor, good man. The game will probably still be excellent. Like New Coke! [...] To my beloved Tweeps, I can't thank you enough for all your support. Getting fired was never so heartwarming.”

MGSV: The Phantom Pain is scheduled for a release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3...someday? A release date isn’t yet known.

Fuckin' awesome.

He's not Solid Snake

DAT KEEF

Metal Gear Solid V is a Big Boss game.

Will take a bit getting used to, but hey, a new MSG game.

I'm happy.

Part of me wants to think this is Hideo pulling another one on us, but if you listen to the MGS5 trailer, both snake and Ishmael sound like Kiefer.

I guess the whole Hayter thing isn't some weird publicity stunt, after all?

Patrick left out the most important part of his tweet: "Great actor, good man. The game will probably still be excellent. Like New Coke!"

I feel that omitting the "like New Coke" part of his tweet, drastically alters the perception that he "took the change in stride"

Haha, damn. Yeah, that's not exactly "taking it in stride."

Solid Snake is not in this game.

Sucks for Hayter, he seemed to really like playing the character.

“Great actor, good man. The game will probably still be excellent. [...] - David Hayter

You didn't include the end of this tweet which kind of changes the meaning.

“Great actor, good man. The game will probably still be excellent. Like New Coke!"

Naked Snake =/= Solid Snake

As a fan of Hayter and Kiefer, I am okay with this.

Hayter is a goddamn diva though.

I'm not happy with the choice, but I can see how having Kiefer Sutherland on would benefit in multiple ways. Aside from having a voice as well as facial performance capture, he could also potentially sign on for the live action MGS movie they've always been going on about. Since he's already involved with the game, makes sense for him to be in the movie as well.

Ain't even mad. Kiefer Sutherland is amazing.

Patrick, why did you edit Hayter's tweets ? They are now grossly out of context. He's actually being very bitter right now, and is embarrassing himself.

My bad, I missed that part! I'll tweak. Who writes their tweets with breaks like that?

Not sure if this is actually awesome. Hearing Keifer just makes me hear Jack Bauer pretending to be Snake. I think I'd be happier if they went with someone out there unheard of so I don't have to put a face to the voice. Reminds me of my time when I was playing Call of Duty: World at War, oh hey why is Jack Bauer in my world war II game.

Big Up the Kief!

I think I'm one of the few die hard Metal Gear fans that isn't at all bothered by the change. Love my man Hayter but it's not like he's going to be out on the streets now. Plus if you're going to replace him, Kiefer Sutherland is a pretty damn good choice.

Can't wait for more Metal Gear!

I'm not exaggerating when I say this news has literally ruined my day.

I don't think I can justify buying MGS5... and that makes me very sad. :(

Keifer Sutherland is playing Big Boss not Solid Snake.

Hayters gonna Hate

oh i finally get what peoples posts are about. you said he is now "solid snake". solid snake isnt in this game. Keifer is voicing Big Boss, not Solid.

Doesn't matter to me, love Hayter, LOVE Hayter but if they want to go in a different direction, fine by me. Just give me the damn game already.

I'm pretty sure Solid Snake is going to show up at the end like Big Boss at the end of MGS4, and he will be voiced by Hayter.

This is the new Big Boss.

The pile of tears and rage on twitter is the old Snake/Big Boss.

I hope there is a convoluted in game explanation.

!

Keifer Sutherland wishes he was a quarter of the man David Hayter is! David Hayter will always be the one true snake! BOYCOTT!!!

(I'm kidding, I don't actually care, but I will miss Hayter's cheesiness)

They should've got Keith David.

But is Keifer Sutherland in Smash Bros? I want to live in a world where something that weird happens.

?

^^^ This.
I'm sure he'll do a bang-up job. People just want to complain.
Also: To the people going "Durr you're an idiot, Patrick. He isn't going to be Solid Snake; he'll be Big Boss."... you get the idea. Hayter voiced Big Boss as well as Solid Snake. They may as well be the same person. Stop being dicks.

@patrickklepek: A screenplay writer. :) Whitespace yo. Helps the page count.

Longest con in the history of gaming? Aside from Infinium Labs I mean.

kiefer's awesome. that is all.

Bullshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

I'm like Patrick(just with better hair) in the fact that I think MGS 1 and MGS 3 are awesome and the other ones suck my ass. I'm checked all the way the fuck out. Its nice to see what you guys think about this. I would be upset but would wait and see(if I cared).

Naw, I'm with you. I am super excited in knowing that Sutherland is the new voice of Snake. I'm sure he'll do a terrific job.

Guys, it's Revolver Ocelot's birthday today. He was born on D-Day. SIX SHOTS!

Doesn't bother me that much. Frankly, I've felt like Hayter has been doing an impression of himself in the role for the last few installments anyway.

He isn't Solid Snake....

Kiefer did some voice work for an anime in the 90s called Armitage III iirc, he was not very good. I'm not particularly happy about this, I don't seem him putting in a Hayter-esque performance, I hope he treats the role as seriously as it deserves.

Oh you mean that guy from Young Guns?

He isn't Kiefer Sutherland. He's Jack Bauer.