Kojima Productions Will be Disbanded, Hideo Kojima Unavailable for Interviews

Konami's Editorial Department has revealed that Hideo Kojima will continue as the director of the Metal Gear series, and that because of the reorganization at Konami, Kojima Productions Japan will be disbanded. Konami says that "all releases previously made under different studios will be centralized and coordinated from headquarters."

We've also got confirmation that the staff at Kojima Productions Japan are dealing with restricted internet and e-mail access, because of the reorganization, so that they can provide a greater development environment, and that Hideo Kojima will become less available for interviews

[yewles1]

Silent Hills may have been silenced...

[breakpad]

MGO 2 in MGS4 maybe the last and the best MGO ...MGO was an experience so excellent that specially after this fallout cannot be replicated

[Ezz2013]

I can't be the only one who thinks this is just trolling from Kojima-Troll-san and Konami

that April's 1 date .....all this just scream April fool's day to me

[MonChiChi]

Yep, Loved MGO2.

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

Despite all this, Konami in this article is insisting that Kojima will remain the director of the Metal Gear Series. They used the word "series". Konami owns the rights to Metal Gear so if Kojima is remaining the series director then he's still involved with Konami, so maybe it's not all doom and gloom for Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hills.

[ps4gamer1983]

Does this mean that MGO3 is cancelled?

[MrCrimson]

Not really sure why you think this means MGO will not be good in MGS5. Konami's restructuring clearly signals the completion of MGS5, and therefore MGO.

[ZombieKiller]

@Ezz: you know with his past, I wouldn't rule out the idea. I don't think he would be allowed to troll in a negative form like this though. It's a big PR no no to do something like that against the overhead company. I would think that he is trolling in other ways though. Like Boss being the only playable character in MGSV and David Hayter's "departure"

[cell989]

the best thing about this is that Kojima will probably open up his own studio and we will continue to get Kojima games

[just_looken]

Well atleast there going out in style leaving us with mgs5 masterpice the last one in a epic series.

After they leave konami will go bankrupt or get purchased.

[aviator189]

Sigh... this is so unfortunate and depressing.

[KnightRobby]

Seems like it is always something in the gaming industry. I just wish everyone could get along. Damn -_-

[KodevEx]

They are a large business. This is why I'm growing more attached to indies and smaller companies.

[kenshiro100]

Oh c'mon...really?

That's really sad.

[Sir_Simba]

What in the hell is going on?!

[Bathyj]

This is so bizarre. I wonder what's behind all of this.

[Godmars290]

My money's on some new senior CEO at Konami trying to test his corporate/political muscles against Kojima, and its blown up in everyone's faces.

[MEGANE]

I like ur theory man, chances r this is exactly what happened

[Akuma2K]

I agree with that too Megane.

[TheColbertinator]

@Godmars

You may be right on the money here

[krypt1983]

It's simple kojima said he wants to move on from mgs series but konami obviously want he to keep making them year after year, so he will be replaced with somebody else, i just hope he owns the fox engine and can't stick it to them..

[Kamikaze135]

I think Kojima tried to stop working on the MGS series since MGS2 was released, but kept getting forced to make a new one by the higher ups. He probably had enough when they tried to force him to start on MGS6 after MGS5 has gone gold. That would explain why Kojima kept saying that Metal Gear Solid 3, 4, and 5 would all be the last in the series.

[freshslicepizza]

i think so. same reason why peter molyneux left microsoft. tired of just fable. same with bungie, tired of halo. same with insomniac, tired of ip control.

this is big business and with that kind of money at stake you are often left to follow orders of what should be made.

[Dirtnapstor]

I think if that were the case, the MGS games that followed would have sucked. He puts his heart and soul into his projects. So obviously setting MGS down and walking away was not the case. Every installment has been incredible. Who knows what Konami ever said as far as dealings. Kojima would never let his baby fall into the hands of another developer.
I say he's forming his own studio. 100% in control, and then some.

[Kamikaze135]

@Dirtnapstor

At the end of the day, game developers are business men/women. Even if Kojima did not want to make a MGS game, he knows his name is attached to it so he has to do a good job. It's better than being chewed out by the higher ups for essentially wasting their time and money on a bad investment. I enjoyed every single main entry in the MGS franchise, but you could tell with IV that he was a bit tired of it. Maybe he made Snake to be a tired old man in MGS IV to reflect how he was feeling. MGS5 is pretty much the series going out with a bang (at least in terms of MGS games produced by Kojima). He probably intended to quit Konami early on so he wanted to make V the best he possibly could.

[MrCrimson]

Studios after the completion of major projects cut staff. Kojima is clearly leaving the company after completion of MGS5. I do find it strange that they removed all the branding, makes me wonder if Kojima's taking his studio with him upon leaving Konami.

[Blackleg-sanji]

I'm really starting to get afraid about what's going to happen to gaming soon, this, Sega being basically mobile now so many other companies are dead or shadows of their former selves, dlc is out of control and getting worst, Nintendo prepping for mobile. I know change happens but man it's starting to get depressing.

[Majin-vegeta]

Video game market crash??We could really use another one right about now

[Blackleg-sanji]

Idk I don't want something that drastic to happen but maybe it is kind of needed on a small scale tho it's just weird looking at all these companies today compared to how they were back then

[dcj0524]

Hello no. There is more good in gaming than bad. Anyone who wishes a crash must hate video games.

[shadowknight203]

There won't be another video game market crash. It happened before,but gaming wasnt as big as it is now. Not nearly.

[x_RadicalAura_x]

This reeks of being another Kojima trick/ploy. Don't be too gullible, people.

[Jalva]

Yeah, especially since Kojima's favourite day of the year (April Fool's) is approaching, if this was a serious issue there would've been a PR statement released to the public by now...

[NarooN]

The denial is real

[Angainor7]

Man every game that has Guillermo Del Toro involved is doomed.. I'm afraid.. iNSane anyone? I hope Silent Hills survives..

[ironfist92]

Whatever happened to inSane? Unless it evolved into Silent Hills?

I hope Silent Hills comes out...

[Summons75]

inSANE was canceled a while ago. I think they will keep Silent Hills since people are excited about it, unless Konami just hates money.

[Skate-AK]

It got canceled when THQ went bankrupt. In November 2012 he said it was still in development but didn't say who was working in it.

[RedPyramidThing]

It won't be the same game anymore...

[2pacalypsenow]

R.i.p Metal Gear

I'm really hoping this is a build up for April fools

[Ninver]

Except april is More than a week away.

[krypt1983]

Don't count on it the writing has been on the wall for awhile..

[urwifeminder]

Mobile games incoming for the box man.

[Godmars290]

Talk about escalating quickly...

[TheOneWhoIsTornApart]

I really hope for the sake of both Kojima and DelToro that somehow all this bs can be resolved or reversed. Konami would have went under long ago if it wasn't for Kojima. I still can't believe they would have the audacity to do this to one of the most legendary video game developers in the industry.

[Sh0ckWav3]

I'm sure he has enough money to start his own studio.....and Sony would publish all his games.

[windblowsagain]

I have nothing against the guy, but all he waffles on about is that MGS should have been this or that or I'm not 100% happy with blah blah.

[EazyC]

Yeah, god forbid someone in the game industry wants to put out a finished, lovingly-crafted piece of work, a true creative piece of art, and not some shoddy retread of the previous 12 installments. He's a perfectionist, simple as.

[TheCagyDies]

The worst mistake since the closure of Clover Studios.

[BattleAxe]

This is really odd timing before one of Konami's biggest game releases since MGS4. Between this and the whole Konami ID fiasco, Konami isn't looking too smart.

[mgszelda1]

My god konami ids were a fiasco

[BattleAxe]

Dude, all I have to say is F.I.A.S.C.O.

[Summons75]

Something happened behind closed doors and it blew up real quick. Kojima leaving because he wants to make other games is one thing but Konami going out of their way to shut down or rebrand Kojima Productions and disassociate him with everything he has done is a bit extreme especially to a man who has created one of gamings most iconic franchises next to Mario and Zelda and is considered a genius of the gaming industry.

[lildudexst]

Up no point in buying day1 or spacial Edition. His name not on there. It what make a game a game. Well I pick it when it 40$

[fonduktoe]

Hilarious

[Captain_Wormy]

My head is actually starting to hurt with all this nonsense going on. I'm just gonna sit back, play some bloody video games, and wait til this blows over.

[RedDeadLB]

Whatever this ends up being, this is not a way to treat the only studio under your wing actually making quality, LEGENDARY products for years and across console generations.

Kojima is an institution on his own, and honestly, after he finishes The Phantom Pain he should leave Konami immediately and if in any way possible take the Metal Gear trademark with him to avoid it being tainted. This is disrespectful to everything the man has done since the dawn of the Metal Gear saga. To even have the audacity to REMOVE Kojima Studios' logo from everything Metal Gear related.. Nuh-uh. Konami should be ashamed.

[Moe-Gunz]

April 1st is approaching...

[Rogert]

April 1st is the start of the Japanese fiscal year, april fool's day is not observed in japan.

[TomahawkX]

I'm confused, maybe all this just means that Kojima Productions are relocating to Konami HQ and will be managed by Konami instead of Kojima, allowing him to focus more on game creation. This all could be a good thing.

[Ethereal]

Whatever this is all I can say is Kojima will always have my support. He is without a doubt the single most inspirational individual in gaming and has always had nothing but a passion all while keeping his fans interests first. His steadfast to perfection should be commended. I had the pleasure of meeting him and it will be something I remember until I move on from this world. Having said that, I seriously hope this is a April fools joke.

[Redempteur]

"the staff at Kojima Productions Japan are dealing with restricted internet and e-mail access, because of the reorganization"

I don't believe you.jpg

[Tapani]

Sounds like Konami the Evil Corporation is trying to squeeze everything out of Kojima and his team.

If this piece is correct, that is.

[Siggipugger]

From Konami two phantoms were born.

[Tdmd]

So sad to see such an excepcional team disbanded... they are responsable for some of my favorite gaming experiences.

[boodi]

they're actually responsible for one of the -very- likely most big/important game production ever released .. it's likely for the sales piling yet 5 months in advance of release ( collector ed , merchandise , and i think some more is forthcoming ) that this will have a huge effect on Kojima' projects , contacts , funds and developments ( think hollywood , and think big , imo )..

so actually I dubt mr. kojima will not program any more game for us because of this departure .. I higly dubt ..

i'm pretty sure he will evolve , and if history means something , he will likely deliver.......

I'm not sure Konami would have been the best base to develope , from here on .

about Konami , without studio Kojima : good luck

[HateFueled]

If Silent Hills will be affected by this, I will never support Konami again with my money. I've NEVER been so interested in a game before. Just... to hell with Konami! To hell with you!!!

[TaylorSwiftFan]

Kojima Productions will become a Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studio.

[BinaryMind]

I just hope if and when Kojima leaves the company he reforms Kojima Productions and makes the Not Metal Gear game he has always wanted to make.

[BRINGSOCOMBACK]

Crazy.

[Enigma_2099]

"We've also got confirmation that the staff at Kojima Productions Japan are dealing with restricted internet and e-mail access, because of the reorganization, so that they can provide a greater development environment, and that Hideo Kojima will become less available for interviews"

Don't worry. The snipers across the street are just for security reasons... yeah, that's it.

[solidboss07]

Well.….., I hope they can take the Fox Engine with them. In other words stop Konami from using it.

[knickstr]

Wow, Konami is having a meltdown. They honestly come off sounding corrupt and power hungry.