Home Gaming Report: Hideo Kojima leaving Konami, Kojima Productions shut down

Report: Hideo Kojima leaving Konami, Kojima Productions shut down

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Metal Gear Solid creator, game design visionary and eternal trickster Hideo Kojima looks like he’s on his way out of Konami for good. Only a few weeks ago Kojima stated (again) that Metal Gear Solid V would be his final in the series, but I doubt anyone expected it to mean a complete abandonment of the publisher that’s housed him and Kojima Productions for so many years. Turns out, there’s far more to the story than that.

So where do we begin?

News of a possible shake up at Konami surfaced last night, with some keen-eyed fans noticing that Kojima’s name no longer appeared on the list of executive directors at the publisher. The new list, which goes into affect on April 1, was posted online without the presence of the Metal Gear creator, leading many to believe that it may have signaled his departure prematurely.

That alone is nowhere near close to conclusive evidence, but it quickly got more convincing. Earlier yesterday promotional artwork for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was edited, removing Hideo Kojima’s name from its traditional spot on top of the title. The Kojima Productions logo was also struck from the artwork – odd considering that it’s the studio behind development.

Kojima name struck from MGSV

Little hints then started to make a lot more sense. Like the sudden migration of the official Metal Gear Solid account from Kojima_Pro_Live to a new, Metal Gear dedicated account, metalgear_en. The Kojima Productions webpage also suddenly disappeared, re-directing to the official Metal Gear Solid page. Hell, Kojima Productions LA even ceased to exist as well, re-branding into the Konami Los Angeles Studio.

In less than 12 hours, Konami had eradicated the Kojima name from anything it possibly could. Surely that meant founder Hideo Kojima was on his way out?

It’s a waiting game then, right?

If Konami had their way, yes. Not long after all these pieces started being put together, the publisher released an official statement addressing them. Konami suspiciously chose to reaffirm that Kojima and his team would continue to support Metal Gear Solid V’s development, but failed to deny his apparent departure.

“Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements.”

As you’d expect, waiting wasn’t exactly at the top of anyone’s agenda. Just a few hours after the statement, an anonymous source reached out to Gamespot. This source, from within Konami, confirmed that there had been a massive fallout between Hideo Kojima, the senior staff of Kojima Productions and Konami. Apparently all senior Kojima Productions employees have had their communications restricted, on top of a ban on promotional appearances for future titles –  including Metal Gear Solid V.

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Kojima Productions staff are now working simply as contractors at Konami, according to the source. While Kojima and his team will see out the development of The Phantom Pain, they are expected to leave the publisher soon after launch – with most senior contracts ending in December.

“After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December.”

But if Kojima is really leaving, what happens to his projects?

Well, it seems like Metal Gear Solid V, at the very least, is safe. The game is only a few months away from launch, meaning most of the game’s content is probably already done and dusted by this stage. There’s very little Kojima needs to do with it at this late stage, so hopefully this fallout doesn’t affect what is almost definitely going to be his final entry into the series.

What happens to Silent Hills?

As for future projects, well that’s far more grim. Silent Hills, for example, was announced last year as a collaboration between Hideo Kojima and film director Guillermo Del Toro. Their P.T demo for the title last year held a bucket full of promise, and got everyone excited for a sequel that – probably – wouldn’t suck. If Kojima is leaving, then you can kiss is contribution to the title goodbye – considering Konami owns the IP.

Wait a second, what does the man himself have to say about it?

Not surprisingly, Hideo Kojima has stayed quiet in among the internet hurricane. Although his last tweet before the eruption basically says it all.

Last Updated: March 20, 2015

16 Comments

  1. Ouch. If I was getting the new MGS game I’d be worried.

    Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    March 20, 2015 at 07:57

    Hopefully he starts his own studio. I’d support him. Even if he made games for EA.

    Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      March 20, 2015 at 07:59

      • Hammersteyn

        March 20, 2015 at 08:07

        Yeah saw this, man I hate EA… I really don’t want to buy ME when it releases…..

        Reply

        • WitWolfy

          March 20, 2015 at 08:45

          Why does every gaming company we learned to love as kids betray or abandon us?

          Reply

          • Brady miaau

            March 20, 2015 at 10:39

            Life Lesson?

  3. Umar

    March 20, 2015 at 08:13

    R.I.P Konami

    Reply

  4. Rock789

    March 20, 2015 at 08:16

    Wow… That is one GIGANTIC hammer blow for Konami!! Eina.

    I’m sure MGSV will still be great – he’s had his hand in its development all the way. But Silent Hills… Damn! Was so keen for that game after the suprisingly awesome PT demo…

    R.I.P. Konami.

    Reply

  5. WitWolfy

    March 20, 2015 at 08:25

    Ummm I’m officially worried now, for Silent Hills that is… Doesnt the Fox engine belong to Kojima Productions? And lets say these rumors are true, then they’ll have to scrap the whole concept Kojima and Del Toro had envisioned to begin with.

    FML.

    Reply

  6. Greylingad

    March 20, 2015 at 09:11

    Shoh…. That was very fast… I haven’t played many of the MGS games but this is some really bad backstabbing going on, without looking at the consequences….Sad really, a sad day in gaming indeed…

    Reply

  7. konfab

    March 20, 2015 at 09:14

    Just in:
    Mass Effect 4, created by Hideo Kojima

    0_____o

    Reply

  8. FoxOneZA

    March 20, 2015 at 09:23

    What could the reason be? Anyways, I thought MGS:R was a poor game for something that had so much press coverage and took so long to create. Maybe Konami have a new director in mind and a new more modern approach for the franchise.

    Reply

    • David Curry

      March 20, 2015 at 13:22

      That’s a good point about Metal Gear Rising. We’re not sure what kind of heat KojiPro suffered when the original development failed, and another developer was paid to clean up the mess. That might have been a strike against Kojima in the eyes of Konami’s bigwigs.

      Reply

  9. Goal9

    March 20, 2015 at 09:42

    And what does Konami have to offer that isn’t MGS?

    Reply

  10. Kojima Productions Nooo :'(

    March 20, 2015 at 11:39

    Kojima Productions Nooo :'( NAAAAaaaahhooooo, this just spoiled my weekend

    Reply

  11. Francois Knoetze

    March 20, 2015 at 13:05

    NOOO!!!! I am a HUGE MGS fan…please don’t let this mess up MGS V o.O…I have been waiting for this game for so long

    Reply

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