Copies of the much-anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4 have been released🐼 into the wild a full week ahead of the June 12 release date.

According to reports, some Wal-Mart stores in the UꦗS have handed over copies of Kojima's masterpiece ahead of t🌄he street date, with snaps of those turning up on the net as the purchasers gloat.

Luckily for Sony, piracy won't be a problem, thanks in part to the use of Blu-ray discs, and that's probably why Konami didn't seem to bothered in a speedily-readied statement regard♑ing the leaks.

"Unfortunately, these things happen," it said. "As much as we like see that no one breaks streets dates, no on🅺e can monitor every single moment that a title gets packed 🌃up for shipment and when it's on its way to the stores.

"The store could be at fault as well, for letting someone get a copy before the street date," said Konami (via PSU). Well yes, unless the people wh💙o bought them used Jedi mind tric🐟ks.

Jun 9, 2008