Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence is an expanded release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. New features include a new camera angle, and the addition of the first incarnation of Metal Gear Online, which is currently discontinued. It was released in Japan on December 22, 2005; North America on March 14, 2006; Europe on October 6, 2006; and Australia/Asia on October 13, 2006.

It was again released in 2008 as part of the Essential Collection. This version, however, is not labeled as such and just says "Metal Gear Solid 3" in white lettering on a black background. This version is also only one disc while the original version included, depending on the edition, two or three DVDs. This means that you can play Metal Gear Solid 3 using a third-person perspective, but you cannot try the Duel , Snake vs. Monkey and Secret Gallery modes , or play the titles released on MSX2 , i.e. Metal Gear ( 1987 ) and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake ( 1989 ). Not even Metal Gear Online , the online multiplayer component of Subsistence, is included in the collection, but it would not have been possible to play it anyway, as the service is no longer available.