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The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake reintroduces a landmark stealth game series in 4K glory, with all the shine and gleam that comes from a modern remake. Now we've had time to play the game, you can read TechRadar Gaming's Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater review.

Over twenty years after the release of the original, the remake recreates a similar experience while boasting more modernized mechanics and visuals. Titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and also being referred to as just 'Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake', this is an exciting new way to play a stone cold classic

Now that the game is out, here’s everything you need to know about Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake - Cut to the chase 

• What is it? A remaster of the esteemed Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
• When did it come out? August 28, 2025
• What can I play it on? PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Who is making it? Konami

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake release date and platforms

(Image credit: Konami)

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake launched August 28, 2025. This was revealed during a State of Play event. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is out on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Unfortunately, the game isn’t going to receive any last-gen ports, so if you’re still rocking older hardware, it might be worth looking to upgrade your setup prior to release if the game is a must-play for you. With how highly praised the original game was, there's a strong chance that it could now fall among not only the best Xbox Series X games, but the best PS5 games too.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake trailers

(Image credit: Konami)

The latest Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer gives an overview of the new online mode. It's called Fox Hunt, and pits players against each other in a deadly game of hide and seek:

A trailer for Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake dropped alongside the full release date:

Konami dropped a dazzling in-engine look at the game as part of the Xbox Showcase event that aired on June 9, 2024. In it, we see plenty of gameplay, including our first look at The Boss. Check it out below:

Before that, there was our first proper look at gameplay. This trailer not only gave us a splendid look at how the game runs and moves, but also showed us some updated shots of iconic parts and areas of the game, from the ruins where Snake finds Sokolov, to the mountaintop trenches, to the swamps with large reptile friends, the rope bridge that houses the climax of the Virtuous mission, and what looks like the location of the boss battle with The Pain. It really does look incredible and looks to be brilliantly brought to life in the Unreal Engine 5.

In these short clips, however, we also get a brief look at gameplay with Snake taking cover behind trees to investigate patrolling guards and also eyeing one up to shoot in first-person view. Check it out in all its 4K glory below.

Before the above video, we only had one Metal Gear Solid 3 remake trailer in the form of the announcement - and it doesn’t give any information away regarding in-game content. Instead, it takes us through an animated rendition of the jungle landscape players of the original Metal Gear Solid 3 may recognize.

After following a colony of ants, followed by a bird in flight, and then a large snake and crocodile, we get our first glimpse at Snake. The end of the trailer announces the name Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, but we don’t receive anything about platforms or a release date.

What we can glean from the trailer though are a bunch of call-backs, nods, and 'easter eggs' which are great fun for existing fans to identify - even if we don't see any in-game action or mechanics. Some specifically good nods are being able to make out the silhouette of the Shagohod in the clouds at the beginning, the parrot almost certainly being The End's companion bird, and the poison dart frog giving a nod to The Fear.

Also, as well as the trailer, the official screenshots that have been released make for great viewing too: and importantly seem to indicate that environments and spaces won't be drastically changed, and will get the beautifying treatment while retaining their original layout, style, and features.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake story and setting

(Image credit: Konami)

The majority of the setting of Metal Gear Solid 3 is in a jungle in Russia, during the Cold War, which is echoed through the brief pan we receive in the announcement trailer.

The story has been confirmed to remain the same as the original game, so if you’ve already played the 2004 version, you’ll probably know what to expect. But, if you’re among the players who are yet to experience what Metal Gear Solid 3 has to offer, and you’d rather now wait for the remake rather than play the original, then the story is still worth brushing up on so you’ll be able to experience the high-stakes action without having to learn too much on the spot.

MGS3 serves as a prequel to the rest of the saga, and because of this, it lays out the origins of Big Boss, a major character within the series, and walks you through the infiltration of Soviet territory to prevent the construction of a weapon of mass destruction. It becomes your job as 'Naked Snake' to carry out missions (as part of the larger mission at hand) translated through radio messages, boss fights, stealthy espionage action, and to avoid blowing your cover to do what's right.

In addition to setting up the series, MGS3 is the first game (despite being a prequel) to stray from the traditional formula of Metal Gear Solid games in terms of its technology, relying more on using the wilderness to your advantage rather than leaning on and defending yourself against high tech. Even though you can use it to your advantage, the wilderness and its ferocious inhabitants are also ready to blow Snake’s cover, so you need to stay alert at all times.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake gameplay

(Image credit: Konami)

As mentioned above, the latest in-engine look at the Metal Gear 3 remake also showed off some glimpses of familiar gameplay. We see Snake taking aim in first-person view from long grass, carefully wading through marshes past reptilian beasts, taking cover behind trees and ruins, and also a clear look at the way Snake moves while crouched, walking, climbing, and leaning. We also see a short clip of Snake taking down a guard from behind - the motions are familiar but much more fluid and seamless when compared to the original.

Away from what we've seen in that trailer, however, and similarly to the story, we expect the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake gameplay to stick pretty closely to the source material. While the general premise of stealth and combat-heavy interactions is expected to continue, we do expect the newest iteration of the game to feel more polished in comparison to its 2004 counterpart.

That said, there could be several mechanics that have been fine-tuned or adapted to make the experience more streamlined and up-to-date. As confirmed in a Tweet posted on the official Metal Gear Solid page, MGS Delta: Snake Eater, is intended to be a ‘faithful recreation of the original story and game design, while evolving the gameplay with stunning visuals and a seamless user experience.’ Perhaps the game will get similar treatment to the Resident Evil remakes of recent years, with a full overhaul of the camera and mechanics to bring the game into the modern day.

The content of the original game was praised for being before its time, so we are keen to see how exactly these are adapted for a more beneficial user experience. Mechanics such as healing were pretty challenging throughout the original and included a lot of in-menu work, but whether or not this will be among the elements being evolved is currently unknown. If there's an aim to make this, in particular, more fluid, then this would be music to the ears of a lot of existing fans, as well as a new audience.

While there’s still a lot to uncover about how exactly the remake will build upon the foundations set by the original, we aren’t going in entirely blind. A new showcase diving into the game's mechanics reveals two ways to play. A legacy mode will allow players to keep classic controls, and a camera view that more closely resembles the original experience. The modern mode offers an over the shoulder third-person shooter feel, matching more modern shooters.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake news

(Image credit: Konami)

Multiplayer mode won't be crossplay
Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater's multiplayer mode, Fox Hunt, won't support cross-play between console and PC.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is getting a new online mode
Revealed during the Konami Press Start livestream on June 12, the publisher describes Fox Hunt as a "completely original online battle mode" that will play differently from 2008's Metal Gear Online.

Fox Hunt, which is being directed by series veteran Yu Sahara, takes place in the same world as the main game and will offer "hide and seek" mechanics, mixed with stealth and survival elements.

Konami provides new deep-dive into the latest trailer
Thanks to a new Metal Gear Production Hotline video, you can get some additional info, and a breakdown of the latest trailer. You'll see some details on the game's legacy mode, as well as some reveals on how the team has approached voice acting.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will feature all the original voices As confirmed in a Tweet, all the original voices from the 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3 will be used in the remake. Rather than inviting voice actors back to re-record lines, the audio will be taken from the original game, which will feed into the honest recreation the remake promises to deliver.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater announced as part of Sony’s State of Play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of the 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3, was announced as part of Sony’s State of Play on May 24, 2023. Although the trailer showcased no in-game content or information regarding the storyline or a release date, it has been confirmed a remake is in the works.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake Hideo Kojima involvement

When the official announcement of the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake came, one of the major things that fans were wondering was whether or not Hideo Kojima himself would be involved. Even though the famous game creator is no longer at Konami and has his own game development studio, the intrigue was still strong as to whether he may consult with the remake or give advice in some capacity - it is one of his games after all, and one of the best he has made.

However, as IGN reported after speaking to Konami about the remake earlier this summer. IGN asked about whether Kojima or Yoji Shinkawa - another crucial cog in the Metal Gear Solid series - would be involved. A Konami spokesperson responded plainly by saying that: "They are not involved."

So there we have it, clear as day, Hideo Kojima is not involved with the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

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Imagine a digital version of yourself that moves faster than your fingers ever could - an AI-powered agent that knows your preferences, anticipates your needs, and acts on your behalf. This isn't just an assistant responding to prompts; it makes decisions. It scans options, compares prices, filters noise, and completes purchases in the digital world, all while you go about your day in the real world. This is the future so many AI companies are building toward: agentic AI.

Brands, platforms, and intermediaries will deploy their own AI tools and agents to prioritize products, target offers, and close deals, creating a new universe-sized digital ecosystem where machines talk to machines, and humans hover just outside the loop. Recent reports that OpenAI will integrate a checkout system into ChatGPT offer a glimpse into this future – purchases could soon be completed seamlessly within the platform with no need for consumers to visit a separate site.

AI agents becoming autonomous

As AI agents become more capable and autonomous, they will redefine how consumers discover products, make decisions and interact with brands daily.

This raises a critical question: when your AI agent is buying for you, who’s responsible for the decision? Who do we hold accountable when something goes wrong? And how do we ensure that human needs, preferences, and feedback from the real world still carry weight in the digital world?

Right now, the operations of most AI agents are opaque. They don’t disclose how a decision was made or whether commercial incentives were involved. If your agent never surfaces a certain product, you may never even know it was an option. If a decision is biased, flawed, or misleading, there’s often no clear path for recourse. Surveys already show that a lack of transparency is eroding trust; a YouGov survey found 54% of Americans don't trust AI to make unbiased decisions.

The issue of reliability

Another consideration is hallucination - an instance when AI systems produce incorrect or entirely fabricated information. In the context of AI-powered customer assistants, these hallucinations can have serious consequences. An agent might give a confidently incorrect answer, recommend a non-existent business, or suggest an option that is inappropriate or misleading.

If an AI assistant makes a critical mistake, such as booking a user into the wrong airport or misrepresenting key features of a product, that user's trust in the system is likely to collapse. Trust once broken is difficult to rebuild. Unfortunately, this risk is very real without ongoing monitoring and access to the latest data. As one analyst put it, the adage still holds: “garbage in, garbage out.” If an AI system is not properly maintained, regularly updated, and carefully guided, hallucinations and inaccuracies will inevitably creep in.

In higher-stakes applications, for example, financial services, healthcare, or travel, additional safeguards are often necessary. These could include human-in-the-loop verification steps, limitations on autonomous actions, or tiered levels of trust depending on task sensitivity. Ultimately, sustaining user trust in AI requires transparency. The system must prove itself to be reliable across repeated interactions. One high-profile or critical failure can set adoption back significantly and damage confidence not just in the tool, but in the brand behind it.

We've seen this before

We’ve seen this pattern before with algorithmic systems like search engines or social media feeds that drifted away from transparency in pursuit of efficiency. Now, we’re repeating that cycle, but the stakes are higher. We’re not just shaping what people see, we’re shaping what they do, what they buy, and what they trust.

There's another layer of complexity: AI systems are increasingly generating the very content that other agents rely on to make decisions. Reviews, summaries, product descriptions - all rewritten, condensed, or created by large language models trained on scraped data. How do we distinguish actual human sentiment from synthetic copycats? If your agent writes a review on your behalf, is that really your voice? Should it be weighted the same as the one you wrote yourself?

These aren’t edge cases; they're fast becoming the new digital reality bleeding into the real world. And they go to the heart of how trust is built and measured online. For years, verified human feedback has helped us understand what's credible. But when AI begins to intermediate that feedback, intentionally or not, the ground starts to shift.

Trust as infrastructure

In a world where agents speak for us, we have to look at trust as infrastructure, not just as a feature. It’s the foundation everything else relies on. The challenge is not just about preventing misinformation or bias, but about aligning AI systems with the messy, nuanced reality of human values and experiences.

Agentic AI, done right, can make ecommerce more efficient, more personalized, even more trustworthy. But that outcome isn’t guaranteed. It depends on the integrity of the data, the transparency of the system, and the willingness of developers, platforms, and regulators to hold these new intermediaries to a higher standard.

Rigorous testing

It’s important for companies to rigorously test their agents, validate outputs, and apply techniques like human feedback loops to reduce hallucinations and improve reliability over time, especially because most consumers won’t scrutinize every AI-generated response.

In many cases, users will take what the agent says at face value, particularly when the interaction feels seamless or authoritative. That makes it even more critical for businesses to anticipate potential errors and build safeguards into the system, ensuring trust is preserved not just by design, but by default.

Review platforms have a vital role to play in supporting this broader trust ecosystem. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that reviews reflect real customer sentiment and are clear, current and credible. Data like this has clear value for AI agents. When systems can draw from verified reviews or know which businesses have established reputations for transparency and responsiveness, they’re better equipped to deliver trustworthy outcomes to users.

In the end, the question isn’t just who we trust, but how we maintain that trust when decisions are increasingly automated. The answer lies in thoughtful design, relentless transparency, and a deep respect for the human experiences that power the algorithms. Because in a world where AI buys from AI, it’s still humans who are accountable.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

As AI tools become part of everyday life, most people believe they would be better equipped to spot AI-generated scams, but new research reveals a worrying trend: as people get more familiar with AI, they’re more likely to fall for these scams.

New research finds that the generations most confident in detecting an AI-generated scam are the ones most likely to get duped: 30% of Gen Z have been successfully phished, compared to just 12% of Baby Boomers.

Ironically, the same research found that fear of AI-generated scams decreased by 18% year-over-year, with only 61% of people now expressing worry that someone would use AI to defraud them. During the same period, the number of people who admitted to being successfully duped by these scams increased by 62% overall.

A Proliferation of Scams

Traditional scam attempts rely on mass, generic messages hoping to catch a few victims. Someone receives a message from the “lottery” claiming that a recipient won a prize, or a fake business offering someone employment. In exchange for providing their bank account details, the messages would promise money in return. Of course, that was never true, and instead the victim lost money.

With AI, scammers are now getting more personalized and specific. A phishing email may no longer be riddled with grammatical errors or sent from an obviously spoofed account. AI also gives scammers more tools at their disposal.

For example, voice cloning allows scammers to replicate the voice of a friend or family member with just a three second audio clip. In fact, we’re starting to see more people swindled out of money because they believe a message from a family member is asking for ransom, when it’s actually from a scammer.

The Trust Breakdown

This trend harms both businesses and consumers. If a scammer were to gain access to a customer’s account information, they could drain an account of loyalty points or make purchases using a stolen payment method. The consumer would need to go through the hassle of reporting the fraud, while the business would ultimately need to refund those purchases (which can lead to significant losses).

There’s also a long-term impact to this trend: AI-generated scams erode trust in brands and platforms. Imagine a customer receiving an email claiming to be from Amazon or Coinbase support, an unauthorized user was trying to gain access to their account, and that the user should call support immediately to fix the issue. Without obvious red flags, they may not question its legitimacy until it’s too late.

A customer who falls for a convincing deepfake scam doesn't just suffer a financial loss; their confidence in the brand is forever tarnished. They either become hyper-cautious or opt to take their business elsewhere, leading to further revenue loss and damaged reputations.

The reality is that everyone pays the price when scams become more convincing, and if companies fail to take steps to establish trust, they wind up in a vicious cycle.

What's Fueling the Confidence Gap?

To address this confidence gap, it’s important to understand why the divide exists in the first place. Digital natives have spent years developing an intuitive sense for spotting "obvious" scams — the poorly written emails or suspicious pop-ups offering a free iPod. This exposure creates a dangerous blind spot: when AI-generated scams perfectly mimic legitimate communication, that same intuition fails.

Consider how the brain processes a typical workday. You're juggling emails, Slack messages, and phone calls, relying on split-second pattern recognition to separate signal from noise. A message from "your bank" looks right, feels familiar, and arrives at a plausible time.

The problem compounds when scammers use AI to perfectly replicate not just logos and language, but entire communication ecosystems. They're not just copying Amazon's email template; they're replicating the timing, context, and behavioral patterns that make legitimate messages feel authentic. When a deepfake voice call sounds exactly like a colleague asking for a quick favor, a pattern-matching brain tends to confirm that interaction as normal.

This explains why the most digitally fluent users are paradoxically the most vulnerable. They've trained themselves to navigate digital environments quickly and confidently. But AI-powered scams exploit that very confidence.

What Tech Leaders Should Do Now

For companies, addressing this overconfidence problem requires a multi-pronged approach:

Inform customers without fear-mongering: Help users understand that AI-powered scams are convincing precisely because they're designed to deceive the most confident, tech-savvy people. The goal isn't to make people stop using AI, rather to help them maintain appropriate skepticism.

Educate them on deepfake scams: Focus on identifying the key signs of a legitimate versus fraudulent message (sent from an unknown number, a message with false urgency, a suspicious link or PDF attached). Show current examples of deepfakes and AI-generated phishing, rather than just talking about traditional fraud awareness.

Keep communication channels transparent: Establish clear, verified communication channels and educate customers about how your company will and won't contact them. The good news is that many providers, including Google, Apple, and WhatsApp currently or will soon offer branded caller ID services.

This means companies can establish a business profile with these apps, adding another layer of verification. That way, when a verified business contacts a customer, their message will clearly show the brand name and a verified badge. Similarly, most brands now authenticate their outbound email to conform with the DMARC delivery standard and qualify for a branded trust mark to show up next to the subject line.

Invest in knowledge sharing: If one company is dealing with an influx of scam attempts, other companies are likely facing similar problems. Scammers often collaborate to share tactics and vulnerabilities; companies should do the same.

Many companies fight fraud by using technologies that incorporate insight-sharing “consortiums”—business networks where fraud patterns are shared across companies. By being open about current challenges, companies can better understand the risks and implement the proper safeguards to keep their customers safe.

The Strategic Advantage of Getting This Right

The businesses that will thrive in this environment are those that maintain identity trust—that is, the ability to recognize a user or interaction within a digital environment—while effectively combating increasingly sophisticated threats. Fraud prevention is no longer just about protection from losses, it’s a critical part of the customer experience. That’s because when customers feel safe, they shop confidently.

By tackling users’ AI blindspots while maintaining trust, companies gain a competitive edge. While the AI revolution has introduced incredibly capable tools, it’s also created unexpected vulnerabilities. Addressing this challenge requires more than just different tools. It demands a fundamental rethinking of how we maintain trust when seeing is no longer enough to believe.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most talked-about technologies of our time. It dominates headlines, fuels boardroom ambition, and drives product roadmaps across every industry. From generative AI chatbots to multi-modal systems and autonomous agents, the sheer velocity of advancement is staggering. But while the pace of innovation is accelerating, it has also created a growing disconnect: everyone wants AI, but far fewer know what to actually do with it.

This gap between excitement and effective execution is fast becoming a defining challenge of the AI era. The technology is racing ahead, but organizational readiness is lagging. Many businesses know they need to act but are unclear on how to deploy AI in ways that are safe, strategic, and genuinely transformative.

To bridge this gap, education is critical. And we don’t just mean educating developers and data scientists, senior leadership needs a foundational understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations. They must grasp where it can create value, what it takes to scale safely, and how to prepare the wider organization for what’s to come. Without this knowledge, AI risks becoming another overhyped tool that fails to deliver meaningful returns.

Where AI is already delivering value

Despite these challenges, AI is already making a tangible impact in focused, high-value areas. These use cases might not generate the loudest headlines, but they offer a glimpse of what’s possible when strategy and execution are aligned.

In customer service, AI is proving to be a powerful support tool. For example, it can generate real-time summaries and recommendations for call center agents, improving both the accuracy and speed of responses. AI-driven sentiment analysis is helping agents better understand customer mood and intent, leading to more empathetic and efficient interactions and a better overall customer experience.

Even more promising is the rise of agentic AI. This technology goes beyond supporting decisions; it can make them. It allows AI systems to reason, troubleshoot, and take action with minimal human input. In practical terms, that means handling common customer queries end-to-end, freeing up human agents for more complex cases.

AI is also boosting operational efficiency. It automates repetitive tasks such as document management, form filling, and data extraction. In sectors like insurance or healthcare, where case management involves large volumes of structured and unstructured data, AI can drastically cut processing times while improving consistency.

These use cases may seem behind the scenes, but they matter. They represent practical, measurable improvements to core operations. They reduce costs, enhance experiences, and give staff more time to focus on higher-value work. That’s real value, not just buzz.

The roadblocks to real impact

But let’s not pretend it’s all smooth sailing. For every success story, there are countless stalled pilots and unrealized ambitions. So, what’s holding businesses back?

First, data sensitivity is a major hurdle, especially in regulated industries like finance and healthcare. Questions about where data is stored, how it’s processed, and who can access it are under constant scrutiny. Compliance isn’t optional, and many AI deployments struggle to meet evolving privacy standards.

Security is another growing concern. As generative models become more sophisticated, so do the risks. Prompt injections, model poisoning, and adversarial attacks are no longer hypothetical, they’re real-world threats that demand serious governance.

Technical limitations also play a role. Hallucinations, where AI generates plausible sounding but incorrect outputs, remain a significant risk. In high-stakes settings like legal advice or medical triage, these errors can be costly or even dangerous. Many models still exhibit cultural or linguistic biases embedded in their training data; this erodes trust and limits wider adoption.

Then there’s the infrastructure challenge, training and running large models is resource intensive, requiring robust compute power, strong data governance, and an architecture capable of scaling. For many organizations, especially smaller ones, the investment can feel out of reach.

All of this contributes to a reality where AI is often deployed in silos or as experiments, rather than integrated at scale. Without a broader strategy and framework, these efforts struggle to drive sustained business value.

Why platform thinking matters

Against this backdrop, we’re seeing the emergence of platform-based approaches as a more sustainable model. Rather than building every AI capability from scratch, organizations are turning to purpose-built platforms that are secure, scalable, and designed with sector-specific needs in mind.

These platforms provide a structured environment where AI can be developed, tested, and deployed safely. They offer features like built-in compliance controls, explainability tools, and integration with existing systems. Crucially, they shift the conversation from isolated tools to integrated ecosystems.

That shift matters, it gives teams more confidence to innovate and leaders more visibility into where AI is making an impact. It also helps balance the tension between innovation and governance, a line that’s becoming increasingly important to walk.

What comes next: Less hype, more strategy

As AI maturity grows and attention shifts to even more advanced ideas, like artificial general intelligence and fully autonomous agents, businesses must keep their feet on the ground.

The winners won’t be those who rush the fastest, but those who build the most solid foundations.

That means adopting AI not as a silver bullet, but as a strategic asset. The focus should be about embedding AI into core workflows, upskilling teams, and designing governance models that support responsible use. It’s about building explainable, auditable systems. It’s about connecting AI initiatives to clear business goals and measuring what matters.

To do this well, organizations must invest in cultural readiness as much as technical capability. That includes fostering cross-functional collaboration, engaging stakeholders early, and creating a shared language around AI value. It means setting the right expectations and learning from early missteps. This may not always be flashy, but it’s what drives real progress.

The promise of AI is enormous. But the path to that promise runs through thoughtful, grounded, and strategic implementation. The businesses that get this right will be those that stop chasing the hype and start building what works.

Everyone wants AI. But only those who know what to do with it will unlock its full potential.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 29.

The Pitt season 2: key information

- Will arrive in January 2026
- Teaser trailer released in August 2025
- Production began in June 2025
- Main cast set to return
- New recurring characters revealed
- Season 2 will time jump to 10 months ahead
- Hopes for future seasons

The Pitt season 2 is coming in January 2026, only a year after the popular HBO Max show premiered on the streamer. The medical drama saw ER's Noah Wyle as the dynamic Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch taking charge of an incredibly stressful day at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital.

And traumatic it most certainly was, culminating in a rather dramatic finale that fortunately, viewers won't have to wait too long to find some resolve. But, in true hospital fashion, as one intense shift ends, another begins (though with a time jump, which I'll get into more below) as the medical staff begin another day with even more drama. Here's everything we know so far from release date, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and more.

Full spoilers for The Pitt season 1 to follow.

The Pitt season 2: is there a release date?

We're so back.Season 2 of #ThePitt has begun filming. Stream Season 1 now on Max. pic.twitter.com/EfBYnrBzLuJune 16, 2025

The Pitt season 2 release date has been confirmed – and it's January 2026. Revealed by Max CEO Casey Bloys in conversation with Vulture back in March, he said: "The second season will premiere in January of 2026, a year later. This model of more episodes cuts down on the gap between seasons."

With season 1, we were treated to an epic 15 episodes worth of emergency room drama. And it appears season 2 will follow suit, Bloys added: "What I love about something like The Pitt is, I can get 15 episodes in a year. That's a really great addition to what we're already doing on the platform. And I'd like to do more shows in this model."

After a February 2025 renewal, the show headed into production on season 2 in June amid official news from HBO Max that the series had stayed among the top three of the streamer's most-watched titles globally.

The Pitt season 2 trailer

The Pitt season 2 got its first official teaser trailer in August and it reveals more high-octane medical drama unravelling in the emergency room as doctors struggle with an overwhelming rush of patients in dire need of help.

But, it did make us say, hang on, hasn't The Pitt season 2's first trailer spoiled a major season 1 cliffhanger? In the first five seconds, Dana can be seen back at work, standing behind the desk. Surprising news considering the season 1 finale saw her seriously questioning whether she could keep doing the job. She's back and I'm not mad about it, quite the opposite.

The Pitt season 2 teaser trailer is also great confirmation for other cast members, alongside Dana, returning for the next installment.

The Pitt season 2 confirmed cast

The main cast will return for The Pitt season 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

Spoilers follow for The Pitt season 1.

Thanks to the teaser trailer, here's The Pitt season 2 confirmed cast we know so far:

• Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch
• Katherine LaNasa as Dana Evans
• Fiona Dourif as Dr. Cassie McKay
• Patrick Ball as Dr. Frank Langdon
• Supriya Ganesh as Dr. Samira Mohan
• Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa King
• Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos
• Shabana Azeez as Dr. Victoria Javadi
• Gerran Howell as Dr. Dennis Whitaker
• Shawn Hatosy as Dr. Jack Abbot

Dr. Heather Collins won't be returning for season 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

There's one character that won't be returning for The Pitt season 2 and that's Tracey Ifeachor as Dr. Heather Collins, as confirmed by Deadline. While it's not clear the reasons behind her exit, Ifeachor posted on her official Instagram to say: "It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece."

We also know about some new characters joining The Pitt season 2. Lawrence Robinson will play Brian Hancock, "a sweet, charming and kind-hearted patient who turns a soccer injury into a possible meet-cute with one of the doctors" (as per Deadline).

Sepideh Moafi also joins as a series regular playing an attending physician, as well as Charles Baker, Irene Choi, Laëtitia Hollard and Lucas Iverson in recurring roles, as exclusively revealed by Deadline.

Finally, in another reveal by Deadline, Zack Morris is also joining as Jackson Davis, "a patient brought to the ED after an uncontrollable outburst in the college library."

The Pitt season 2 story speculation

The Pitt season 2 picks up on Langdon's first day back (Image credit: HBO Max)

Full spoilers follow for The Pitt season 1.

For The Pitt season 2, the cast will pick up in the emergency room 10 months after the intense shift that unravelled in season 1.

This time jump was revealed during Deadline's Contenders TV panel in April and it was further explained by the creative team that season 2 will take place over the Fourth of July weekend for another 15 hours and 15 episodes of medical emergencies.

And when it comes to the reason for this time jump, the show's creator R. Scott Gemmill revealed to TVLine that it has a lot to do with Dr. Langdon's recovery.

The season 1 finale saw Dr. Robby tell Langdon that if he wants to return to Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, then he has to check himself into a 30-day inpatient rehab. Of course, that's not 10 months. But, recovery isn't linear.

Gemmill said: "Thirty days is probably the minimum he would have to do. You can do 60, 90... and part of [the time jump] is driven by when he can shoot in Pittsburgh."

He added: "Nine, basically 10 months later, gives a lot of room for us to have developed a few stories in the interim and catch up with everyone. And with it being Langdon's first day back, we get to catch up as he catches up with all those people."

And like season 1, the next season will follow the same 15-hour schedule running from 7am to 10pm and all the intense medical situations that can bring in, especially over the Fourth of July weekend.

While the season 1 finale saw Dana's return unclear, she's back (Image credit: HBO Max)

The recovery wasn't just for Langdon though with Dr. Robby having to address his own mental health issues and speaking to TVLine in April, Gemmill said: "Getting himself mentally healthy against is part of his journey."

With such stressful jobs, the pressure was unsurprisingly getting to the doctors and none more so than Dana Evans who we last saw packing up her things in the season 1 finale and telling Dr. Robby she was thinking about leaving the ER for good.

Fortunately, we know she didn't commit to this, appearing in the first official teaser trailer very much still part of the team (despite a stern look pointed towards Dr. Robby).

And with new characters joining for season 2, there's plenty of new faces – both doctors and patients – that I'm sure will bring their own personal dramas (and medical cases) to The Pitt.

What they won't be doing in the 15 hours that will unfold on our screens though, is ever leave the ER. Gemmill explained: "The reality is that we don't really leave our set. We don't leave the ER. We did a few things at the very end where we saw people going home and stuff.

"But beyond that, I don't expect us to go anywhere beyond the hospital and the ambulance bay until the last episodes of next season, and maybe we'll see a couple other parts of the hospital."

The real-life medical landscape is reflected in season 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

And although they're not stepping outside of the hospital, it doesn't mean they can't address real-time and real-life concerns that affect medical care in the US.

Speaking to Variety, executive producer John Wells explained that this includes President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill', outlining a 12% cut to Medicaid spending: "The Medicaid changes are going to have a significant impact, and you don't have to take a political position to discuss what the impact is actually going to be."

Gemmill added: "We take out platform very seriously. I think one of the things when you can reach 10 million people – and this was true back in the day on 'ER' as well – is with that amount of people listening, you have to be responsible for what you put out there."

Will The Pitt return after season 3?

Could The Pitt become an annual drop for HBO Max? (Image credit: Max)

With The Pitt season 2 landing on HBO Max in January, there's no news yet of a season 3... and beyond. It doesn't necessarily mean we'll have to wait until January for news of more though, given season 2 was treated to an early renewal.

But, for now, I don't have much to report other than Gemmill joking with Deadline that: "If there’s a season 12, we’ll do a musical. Right now, we kind of want to stick to what was working for us, but we’re still learning. It’s a process."

While season 12 sounds crazy to talk about now (and a musical even crazier), ER did run for 15 seasons. So, maybe it's not all that wild of an idea after all.

For more Max-focused coverage, read our guides on the best Max shows, best Max movies, The Last of Us season 2, and Peacemaker season 2.

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