Since 1987, Hideo Kojima has been the driving force behind Konami’s popular and well-regarded spy game franchise, Metal Gear. But with recent changes happening over at Konami, it seems that after April 1, both Kojima and Kojima Productions will no longer be a part of the publisher.
NeoGAF and Reddit users this morning have found evidence of Kojima’s departure. Until recently, the Metal Gear Solid V splash page read “A Hideo Kojima Game,” as did all the marketing. Now, Kojima’s name has been lifted off the page for Metal Gear Solid V as well as other Metal Gear titles like Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection. Also, when looking at the Konami Executive Appointments page (effective on April 1), Kojima has been removed as the Executive Content Officer.
But what about Kojima Produtions, you ask? Well, it seems that Kojima Productions is no more. On the @Kojima_Pro_Live Twitter account, they directed fans to begin following the new dedicated Metal Gear Solid account, @metalgear_en. It also seems that Kojima Productions’ LA office has been rebranded as Konami Los Angeles Studio.
Heading off. pic.twitter.com/JWyh4DbeIY”
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) March 16, 2015
Considering how cryptic Kojima’s plots usually are, was this tweet letting us in on his departure from Konami?
When Eurogamer asked for comment, Konami issued this statement:
“Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements.”
This is neither a confirmation nor a denial. But it seems that Kojima will, at the very least, remain at Konami until production on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ends.
As for the changes to the tagline, Konami responded to Eurogamer with this:
“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.”
As of now, we are still unsure what this means for the future of Metal Gear Solid and Hideo Kojima’s tenure at Konami. We will update as the story develops.
