Konami responds to Hideo Kojima exit rumours

Konami has responded to rumours circulating this morning suggesting that Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima has left the company.

[Conkerkid11]

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

Kind of worrying that they don't mention Kojima Productions.

Uh oh... How's Silent Hills doing?

[Nitrowolf2]

This. I have a feeling it's most likely just a rebranding/naming of the studio or at least I'm hoping rather than just downright getting rid of them all together

[turdburgler1080]

Kojima San was so mad about quiets jiggle physics not being just right he quit.

[morganfell]

It isn't just that. Look at this:

http://www.konami-digital-e...

I know its dated April 1st but they are anouncing this now. As of April 1st Kojima will no longer be an executive at Konami.

[Xman2K]

April Fools Day

[morganfell]

I would have thought that but they are announcing it today and it just so happens that April is the very next calendar month so I do not believe this is a joke.

We could find out this is a huge elaborate publicity stunt that involves David Hayter but I don't believe so. This seems like a legitimate split, most likely brought on by Konami making a decision with which Kojima could not sit idly by and absorb. I would guess it involves Konami interfering in a creative decision involving MGS 5 hence the removal of the KojiPro insignia.

[Xman2K]

Or maybe funding, as creating phantom pain must have been waaay expensive, they even opened up 2 whole studios for it

[Kumomeme]

1st April is marked the started fiscal year for japan

dont expect it to be april fools since its no joke matter regarding huge organization restructure like this

[ZombieGamerMan]

Yeah cause obviously it can't mean anything else right especially not the possibility of rebranding it as Konami's primary studio. Nope it means loom & gloom

[Hanuman]

"UPDATE 2: Speaking to GameSpot, an unnamed source within Kojima Productions has revealed that after work on Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is completed, "Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami".

Whoops, bad news.. :(

[showtimefolks]

who owns the MGS IP? i think i know the answer already but just in case(does Kojima have any rights to the IP)

[rainslacker]

Konami.

Not sure if Kojima came up with the original Metal Gear game(he was listed as director) or just created the stories and directed the games for the Solid franchise, but even though he's made them into his own, the franchise actually belongs to Konami.

Kojima productions is also owned by Konami, although I believe that Kojima has a financial stake in the company.

[joab777]

It's not good that it isn't his choice. But it's a terrible move on Konami's part. Yeah, he may be difficult (or not) and desire an excess orlf resources, but it is worth it. Even if he is the worst person to work with (and I doubt it), it is best to keep him happy.

Even if they are taking the popular path of restructuring to make games other than AAA, keep him as your only AAA IP, or let him do what he wants. Why?

Because it's profitable...and and EA, Activision etc. will jump all over this.

Personally I'd love for him to take the Cliff route and go produce and publish his own games. But, as we have seen, this is a problem too.

I guess I hope it all works out b/c it's crazy.

[WESKER2015]

somethings up, i hope to here more on this issue

[Khajiit86]

The man is a legend. Whatever he decides we the gamers will be ok as long as he continues his great work elsewhere.

[UKmilitia]

imagine if he joined Sony or Sony let him have his own studio.

[Khajiit86]

I wouldnt be surprised. Wasnt MGS originally PS exclusive?

[UKmilitia]

i think back in the day it was all PS .
either way its a talent and one of gamings greats to many.
I really want to know more of the story because im not having it the games finsihed and then he just gone.
its not like he a normal coder or programmer or story guy like many of the others who have left teams this last year,

[u4one]

@khajiit86:

metal gear solid was originally on Nintendo

[DOMination-]

Metal Gear was Nintendo but MGS was timed exclusive for ps1 (it came to pc later and also had a gamecube remake)

[HumanatPlay]

THIS THIIS THIS!

[ManiacMansion]

Than he would not have the money to make such a game Like MGS4 or MGS5

[Skullomania]

@u4one

No. It was originally from the MSX platform.

[AJ Hartley]

"You know your history, very good"
Sorry couldn't resist. Back to the future quote.

[Xman2K]

Yes and MSX was Microsoft, isn't that ironic

[PS4isKing_82]

Well technically metal gear solid started on ps1. But metal gear as a whole did start out on msx and Nintendo consoles.

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

Well that didn't sound too hopeful.

[Eamon]

Well this is weird... Every single MGS game has had "A Hideo Kojima Game" splattered everywhere.

Even if the box arts are just placeholders, what was the point of only removing the Hideo Kojima reference?

Sounds fishy...

[XanderZane]

Unless he left Konami and has changed or created he own studio with a different name. He may have branched out beyond Konami. Something is definitely up though. I'm sure we'll learn more in the coming weeks.

[ThunderPulse]

Maybe he wants to create a new series
.

[ginsunuva]

No that's crazy. He obviously wants to run Metal Gear into the ground with endless prequels.

[ThunderPulse]

I actually like the prequels more.

[FlameWater]

Kojima wants to work for R*

[DarkOcelet]

I am pretty sure he would do an excellent job there, they can throw him a good budget for his game and he and his team will do the rest.

[XXXL]

Konami loses him its over. Which I can't say I mind givin the fact they have sat on and let great IP's rot the last few years. I just hope someone can buy castlevania from them. All of my childhood favorites have turned to shit. Capcom, Konami, etc.

[Ristul]

Yeah, it's a strange feeling really... in the 80's we got amazing games from Konami and Capcom both. I mean, even their Disney games back then where gold!

I need to play Magical Quest again soon.

[kevinsheeks]

I think he wants to create other games and they keep forcing him to make more metal gear.

[bothebo]

I feel as if the IP has lost some of its prestige just because there are so many of them. Having played very few, I can only say that they all look the same to me, but I'm not really sure.

[kevinsheeks]

I've played a total of three, one of which was the raiden focused action game but besides that one you have a point about more iterations taking away from the serie prestige

[Sevir]

He's already said that he's finished with MGS, the parent company Konami will continue the up. Much like Konami funded the development of Metal Gear Rising. Other teams will get their reigns on the Ip.

[LightDiego]

What about Sillent Hills then?

[Gatsu]

Yes I need to know how does this effect SH development. I NEED that game after I play TPP million times.

[DarkOcelet]

I will be very sad if he didnt make Silent Hills.

[joinsideke]

This is .... disconcerting.

Likely not a con, since Kojima has always been about his name and brand. Likely not a straight decision by Konami to distance themselves from Kojima, since he's been nothing but a money maker and tech advancer for them for years. More like either he wants to FINALLY get off the ball, or maybe they're sick of him always saying he's gonna quit....

[Karnalsyn]

http://ca.ign.com/articles/...

[zeeman]

Wouldn't be surprised maybe kojima isn't interested in making another MGS and Konami don't see the need to keep him on board.

[BABY-JEDI]

That's a BIG statement considering this guy can do anything, & do it brilliantly?
; ) just look @ that track record. He's a gold medalist & worshiped by all, including dev's

[hkgamer]

he carries konamis video game department.
fox engine was developed by kojipro and used in pes which is konamis biggest franchise.
castlevania lord pf shadows had kojipro involved in certain parts of development and was a big success, the other two games didnt have kojipro and flopped.
P.T was one of the biggest thing that happenned gaming related in 2014.
silent hills was the most exciting silent hill project since silent hill 3.

[TheVigilanteCode]

Really...REALLY hope it's just a troll because of that April 1 mention.

If this is indeed true, then just shelve the franchise after this game and don't give it to a western developer. So sad for Silent Hills.

[Number-Nine]

Kojima? Kojima?! KOJIMAAAAAA!!!!

[Pathogenic]

Head over to Gamespot for the official update with a source confirming that indeed Kojima will be departing Konami on the release of Phantom Pain.

Silent Hills Update: He will leave when Silent Hills is completed before the release of Phantom Pain.

I guess the rumor is true.

[DarkOcelet]

How will he complete Silent Hills in such a short amount of time?

[BABY-JEDI]

Could this be a symptom of the mobile market. Upper management restructuring their priorities from the console to mobiles?
Silent hill? That worries me. I was hoping for Morpheus support. It might just get noobifier support now
:.(

[Pillsbury1]

It's just like the MGS storyline... A parting of ways because of different ideals... Kojima will leave and start his own "outer heaven".

[HIV-]

That is very good reference my friend. I hope he does start his outer haven.

I hope he will finish the series and tie the loose ends. I wouldn't think anyone else would be fit enough to create MGS

[Blues Cowboy]

Wouldn't be surprised if he went indie or into a different medium for a while. He's amazingly creative and might have to blow off some steam before settling on a new AAA outfit.

[pupa]

Where there is smoke there are most probably a fire. A huge one may develop.

""UPDATE 2: Speaking to GameSpot, an unnamed source within Kojima Productions has revealed that after work on Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is completed, "Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami".

The studio is also reported to be caught amidst a "power struggle" with Konami that has seen senior staff's access to corporate internet, emails and phone "restricted""

[sanosukegtr123]

maybe he went on break.

[mochachino]

greatest game developer of all time

[MasterD919]

I think this is more Kojima moving away from Konami though rather than the other way around, but Kojima is a very bright man...which, usually means that he'll end up just fine down the road.

Metal Gear will continue either way and Kojima will explore whatever he's always wanted to do in the industry.

[hkgamer]

it definitely looks like a power struggle type thing gone horribly wrong. i understand changing the names of the studios since he has left the company and working as a contractor but taking his name out of the posters which normally says 'a hideo kojima game' seems like konami trying to show the public that they own the ip.

[fitfox]

leaving konami? what about silent hills?

[Mikeyy]

Good chance most of the heavy work on MGS5 is done already, so I'm not at all worried about that game, and Kojima has stated for years he wants to do something other than Metal Gear which is fine.

Fine because that something was supposed to be Silent Hills, but now with this rumor I am terrified that if Kojima and Konami split up, and Kojima is removed from Silent Hills then its destined to be another flop..

P.T. had me soo hyped for this, I really need it to work out.

[PiNkFaIrYbOi]

People need to calm down until some concrete information on what is going on comes out.

[HIV-]

Well I guess it's time for MGS to go the way of Silent hill. they're gonna keep poping them out every year or in short gaps till they are not profitable.

it is not profitable enough if kojiam makes a game every 7-8 years instead of every year like call of duty.

R.I.P MGS my last most favorite series. All the series that I liked were killed in the last gen the same way because the devs tried to make their game appeal to mainstream and they failed misrebly and ended up killing the franchise. Now it is time for Konami to walk the way of capcom

[hkgamer]

bad move by konami, but kojima probably wanted too much. the way things were moving along konami would have been swallowed up by kojima and i wouldnt be surprised if the company itself changes its name to kojima =)

well probably not but kojima was taking over too much. running 2 studios and fox engine being made by kojimapro.

at the end of the day, it still feels like konami has abandoned kojima and it seems like kojima will move onto his own projects and create outerheaven.

[WhateverBlah]

For me KONAMI was all about Suikoden, Silent Hill & MGS, as we all know there is no Suikoden & Silent Hill anymore & if Kojima leave after MGS V then I won't care what KONAMI does anymore, it will be like they don't exist at all.