When Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater launched, most attention was understandably focused on its iconic single-player campaign.
FOX HUNT, the game’s stealth-driven multiplayer mode, was designed as an optional add-on, expanding the core experience into online play centered on camouflage, tracking, and cat-and-mouse tension.
Instead, only a couple of months after release, the mode is already being widely described by players as “practically dead.”
When Did Fox Hunt Actually Launch?
Originally slated to release alongside the base game in August, FOX HUNT instead launched on October 30, 2025.
Although it launched as a free update, the timing soon proved problematic. FOX HUNT launched after much of the audience had already disengaged, resulting in a missed window for the early population boost essential to multiplayer longevity.
Is This Problem Affecting All Platforms?
Those complaints weren’t isolated, with players across multiple platforms reporting long matchmaking times, failed searches, and lobbies that never fill.
Some Xbox users describe waiting ten minutes or more without finding a single match. On PC, others say they were unable to gather enough players to even start a game, leading many to uninstall the mode entirely.
Even PlayStation 5 players (arguably FOX HUNT’s healthiest platform) have shared screenshots and videos of matchmaking sessions being canceled due to a lack of participants.
One of the most damning details is how many players claim they didn’t know FOX HUNT existed at all.
Aside from a short notice or patch mention, FOX HUNT received little promotional support, making it easy to miss amid a crowded release period full of major multiplayer titles.
How Did the Lack of Crossplay Make Things Worse?
Without crossplay, the already limited audience was divided between platforms, further reducing the number of players available for matchmaking in FOX HUNT.
In modern multiplayer design, crossplay is often essential for niche modes to remain playable.
Without it, FOX HUNT quickly reached a tipping point where too few players were available at any given time, especially outside peak hours.
The criticism is also rooted in a sense of missed potential, as many players agree that FOX HUNT’s stealth mechanics are strong, with camouflage and positioning delivering distinctly Metal Gear–like moments.
However, inconsistent balance (where fast, aggressive play trumped stealth) paired with minimal post-launch content meant the experience struggled to stay engaging over time. Those positive on the mode still recognize that it felt half-baked or underdeveloped.
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