The near-eternity wait for the final iteration of the Solid Snake franchise slithers to June release.

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced that Metal Gear Solid 4 will arrive in North America on June 12. Yes, fans of one of the most anticipated sequels of all time can finally breathe.

In concert with the announcement, Sony also announced a special edition bundle of its increasingly popular PlayStation 3 80 GB console that will include the highly anticipated release, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot, along with Sony's new DualShock 3 controller for $499.

Sony also mentioned that pre-order participants will gain early access to the Metal Gear Online "Starter Pack," which supports online gameplay for up to 16 players. The multiplayer beta test for Metal Gear Online is scheduled to open in late April. Pre-order participants will also gain the Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD, chock full of goodness for fans of the series.

While SCEA didn't announce when the bundle will release, it's a safe bet that it will be available with the game's official release on June 12.

How bad do you want to play MGS 4?