Due to the unbelievable level of traffic, Konami has been forced to cancel the start of the beta test of Metal Gear Solid.

In a notice posted on its official website, Konami said that the US and the European beta tests were canceled, but they are ready to start again in a few days. The testing in Japan will continue.

“…. we will be making the following changes to the schedule:

1) Start date: Planned for 04/25/2008 24:00(PDT). While the start is planned for the weekend, it may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

3) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 05/11/2008 at 24:00(PDT) rather than 05/05/2008 at 24:00(PDT)” Konami wrote.

Metal Gear Online will launch as part of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on June 12. It will include five unique stages: “Ambush Alley,” where trenches and sandbags litter an arena built for close and medium range combat; “Blood Bath,” a two-tier battle setting; and “Groznyi Grad,” the expansive Shagohod development complex from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater which features human catapults that propel players to different areas of the environment.

Rounding out the five stage set are the dusty, Middle Eastern alleyways found in Guns of the Patriots entitled “Midtown Maelstrom,” and the rooftop settings of “Urban Ultimatum.”

According to Konami, up to 16 people can play simultaneously, with game worlds created using Guns of the Patriots’s 3D engine. Five game modes await players on stages that span the globe and the history of MGS: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture and Base and Sneaking missions.

The beta version was available as a download for those who already pre-ordered Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots. It features two maps, “Blood Bath” and “Groznyi Grad”, four gameplay modes, the SOP System that encourages up to 16 players to team up and share information, and deep skill-customization.