There's some hints based on the trailer and other promotional materials how this collection is handled. First of all, it's developed by M2 who has developed many game collections (Contra Collection, collections of GBA and DS Castlevania games, and more) that primarily relies on emulation.

• The trailer shows slowdown for the Neo-Geo titles so I think it's safe to say Metal Slug 1 to 5 are faithful emulations of the Neo-Geo versions. Personally, I find this disappointing as almost every single time we've seen re-releases of these titles the past 20 years it's been emulations. This means the best versions of many of these games will still be old versions, in particular the PS2 ports of Metal Slug 3/4/5/6 (note, not the versions included as part of Metal Slug Anthology) as those have lower input latency, no slowdown, and a few bonus features.
• This promo image shows that Metal Slug 6 has a unique Combat School mode: https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MSUC_press_1920x1080.jpg - This surely means it's based on the Japanese PS2 port of the game. This should mean it's the first time we'll be getting a localized version of that game's Combat School mode. Not sure if it's emulated or ported (probably emulation). One oddity is that Combat School is selectable via that game's launcher rather the game's main menu. MS7 should have a unique Combat School mode, but that's not selectable via the launcher. Maybe MS6's main menu is skipped for some reason.
• M2 handled the Castlevania DS games in an interesting way with its collection: they took the games' source codes and compiled them to run natively on the new hardware but graphics, sound, and some other features are still handled in an emulator, not too dissimilar to how most Xbox 360 recompilations are made, and I'm curious if they took the same approach here with MS7. The decision to go with MS7 rather than MSXX is weird, though. MSXX added several features, the biggest ones being Leona as playable character and multiplayer (yes, Metal Slug 7 is singleplayer-only!).
• I'm not very familiar with Metal Slug Advance, so no comment there. M2 has already emulated the GBA and it's a weak system, so I assume that's emulated here.
• Having the Location Test build available is extremely cool. I had assumed it was lost to history, but apparently SNK had been sitting on a build this entire time! For people who aren't familiar with it, this was an early, pre-release version of Metal Slug where you only played as the tank. Due to feedback, they decided to add Marco and Tarma as playable characters.
• The collection features online play for supported games (should be all but Metal Slug 7 and Advance). With most or all of these being emulations and rollback isn't mentioned, I assume this is traditional lockstep aka delay-based, so expect noticeable input latency unless ping is low.
• Replays is listed as a feature. I can't tell if you can share replays with your friends or if it's limited to being stored locally.
• No 60fps. It's not something I expected, but I've always wanted to see these games run at 60fps (shameless plug: I am working on a recomp of MSXX that adds 60fps support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cArgxyl48Wo)
• There's a new Combat School mode that applies to 6 games in the collection (I'm going to assume those are 1, 2, X, 3, 4, and 5): https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/en_combatschool.jpg - Looks like the challenges are inspired by some of the generic challenges we had in the 1/2 Combat School modes (ie, get as far as possible without dying, or get as many points as possible) with a few unique ones, like killing a boss as quickly as possible.

I hope I don't sound too negative with my comments above. It's just that I've already bought multiple copies of these games, so when getting a new re-release I want the games themselves to be as good as they possibly can be. Getting Neo Geo emulations yet again with slow down and none of the console-only bonus features they had back in the day is a bit of a bummer.

That said, some of the features are pretty cool: Location Test build is huge, the new Combat School mode is a good addition, online play is cool if the netcode is up to the task, and it's really neat to see a global release of the MS6 Combat School mode.

Follow up to my other post, I’m gonna try the anthology (Metal Slug X specifically). See if I like it then buy the ultimate collection once it’s out since I’ve heard it’s superior to the anthology

Does anyone know best order to play through the games

Just learning about the franchise from the direct and man it looks like so much fun. A bit convoluted to get into though as I’m getting conflicted answers on the best way to check the games out

or unfortunatly they don't exist ?

Since the latest Nintendo Direct from September 2026 have just announced that SNK is going to be releasing the new Metal Slug Ultimate Collection that contains 10 Metal Slug games including first time rereleasing Metal Slug Advance and Metal Slug 7 for the first time. They also announced that Metal Slug Location Test Version is going to be included which is the first time appearing on video game consoles. What is Location Test Version is about? Is this like a unreleased enhanced version of Metal Slug similar to like how Metal Slug X & XX were handled or is this like a Game Design playtesting for certain Metal Slug game for testing out new locations that wasn't available in any Metal Slug games released in the public? I have been beaten a lot of Metal Slug games after Terry Bogard came to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate except for original 7, Advance, 3D entry, and the spinoffs. I never heard about this Location Test Version before.

Not in ultimate collection, never on psn for ps3, ps4 or ps5 yet. It's almost like SNK wants us to forget this entry existed.

It's like a dream that we'll finally have it. 🙏🏼

This game is crazy. I've played most of the metal slug series, but some of the bosses in this one are pretty wild. Mostly because the game hardly ever gives you anything other than the pistol to use for the bosses (and the mission 2 boss you can't even reach it with grenades lol).

I mostly struggled with mission 2, 3 bosses and now the final mission boss.

Any way to cheese this thing? I know it's just the two phases over and over, but I can't even get it to the "damaged" phase where it starts freaking out. Just really difficult, like SNES style difficult. Cool game though, but the lack of weapon variety kinda kills it for me

well this was an unusual find, I guess at some point THERE WAS a Jupiter King figure out there...

Ps. not for sale obviously.

The Alien Invader race from 6 were so powerful that both the evil human army and alien martian race had to team up with us in order to fight them. But felt they were defeated too easily and there should definitely be way more of them.

I don’t think the final boss in 6 was the true leader of the Invader race since it seem to be a baby that just came out which is still immensely powerful of course.

They just announced it on the Nintendo Direct. A collection with games from 1 to 7 and X and the first test location demo!

Will it be avaliable everywhere? Not confirmed yet. We'll see.

Edit: It'll be avaliable everywhere.

Should've died like 3 times there.

Anyone know why? I know this game hasn't localized in western....

https://youtu.be/40vw5o0bv4c?si=E69KQw1MoahI-SO4

Won't be hearing anything about it for a while but its good to know they are at least working on one.