Kojima releasing an official wallpaper with the release date stamped on it means only one thing - the June 12 (worldwide) release date is as official as it’s going to get. But if you want more, then know that Kojima has confirmed the date in a press release as well, along with some details on the Metal Gear Online Starter Pack and a pre-order program that will get you into the MGO beta.

MGS4 will launch with the MGO Starter Pack, meaning you can take the action online and duke it out with 15 other players. And if you pre-order the game beginning April, you’ll get a number of goodies along with a code that you can use to access the MGO beta that starts late April and play the game even sooner.

The goodies you’ll be getting include a Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD with a prologue recapping the franchise, a 20th Anniversary retrospective, character bios, and a collection of international trailers. The pre-order package will be available until supplies last though, so be quick about it.

Konami’s Chairman and CEO Kazumi Kitaue said the early summer release fits Solid Snake’s final mission well, since “blockbuster events and premieres are a tradition of the summer.”

[See also: Metal Gear Solid 4 gallery, Metal Gear Online gallery]