Hideo Kojima Expected To Leave Konami After MGSV

by Andrew Brennan · March 19, 2015

Earlier today I came across some rumours regarding Hideo Kojima leaving Konami. At first I believed that this was impossible, in my mind Hideo Kojima has been inseparable to Konami, this could not be true. Unfortunately what was rumoured on Reddit and Neogaf earlier today has been comfirmed by Gamespot. After the release of Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain, it is expected that Hideo Kojima will be leaving Konami along with some members of upper management.

This is the result of a fallout between Kojima Productions and Konami, staff are allegedly being restricted access to to corporate internet, emails and phones. The majority of the staff at Kojima Productions are now considered contractors and are no longer full time employees at Konami. Hideo Kojima himself has also been removed from the list of executives at Konami. A source who spoke to Gamespot informed them that after the release of The Phantom Pain the studio will likely be disbanded.

Earlier today people began to notice that the Kojima Productions logo was removed from all official Metal Gear artwork, and the studio itself had been completely removed from Konami’s websites. In addition to this the Kojima Productions LA studio has been renamed to Konami Los Angeles Studio. The artwork for all Metal Gear titles also no longer display the prefix “A Hideo Kojima game”. Their official twitter account was also replaced by another as the official twitter for all things Metal Gear.

Konami would not discuss the matter when contacted directly. In a statement provided to VideoGamer, a Konami representative said: “Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements.”

Konami have further stated “As we have already announced, we are shifting our production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business. Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima), will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements.”

Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain, quite possibly Kojima’s final Metal Gear game, is still on track for release September. It will launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC