Japanese games publisher Konami has been at the center of a recent controversy leading to speculation that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has left the company.
The news was given further credence when Kojima’s name had mysteriously been scrubbed from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s box art and the official website for Kojima Productions, MGS V‘s development team, had been taken down.
It’s since been revealed that Kojima Productions is no more and has been absorbed by Konami.
Despite no longer spear-heading development at Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima will be contracted to work on future Metal Gear Solid games. He will not reprise his role as a Konami executive while working in this capacity.
Kotaku reports that Konami has finally delivered official word after being persistently taciturn on the subject, but their responses are quite vague and deflective.
今回ＫＯＮＡＭＩ全社での制作体制の変更に伴い、小島プロダクションも他社内プロダクションと同様に、制作本部体制へと移行した為、名称なども変更となりました。組織・名称は変更となりましたが、これまで通りMGSV:TPPは小島監督の元、従来のメンバーにより制作が進められています。
— メタルギア公式 (@metalgear_jp) March 25, 2015
“In accordance with the recent change in production organization of all of Konami, Kojima Productions, as well as other internal production companies, has had its name, etc., changed to move into the corporate headquarters work structure,” Konami said in a recent Tweet.
The studio confirmed what we knew already, saying that Kojima is continuing to work on The Phantom Pain with the existing members of Kojima Productions.
“The name and organization has changed, but as before, MGSV: TPP is continuing as a work from director Kojima and the existing team members.”
小島監督も自らゲームをプレー、細部まで確認・スタッフへ指示を出し完成に向けて制作を進めています。小島監督の思いとアイデア、かつてないボリュームをオープンワールドでお届けするTPPの制作は本当に大変ですが、監督をはじめチーム一丸となり完成を目指していますので温かく応援をお願いします
— メタルギア公式 (@metalgear_jp) March 25, 2015
“Director Kojima is playing the game, checking all the small details and giving directions to the staff as the title continues to completion.
“Bringing the thoughts and ideas of director Kojima in an open world game of the size of TPP is incredibly difficult, the director and the team that’s been there from the start are coming together as one as they aim to finish the game, so please give them the support they need.”
Konami pretty much asserts what we already know, talking in so much PR-speak that it’s hard to actually get a straight answer.
It’s strange how they keep dancing around the points, but seeing as Kojima has such a huge impact on the company as a whole, it’s not surprising Konami wants to keep the surprise under wraps as long as possible.
And there’s still no official word on whether or not Silent Hills is still in the works or not. We probably won’t ever hear official clarification on that one.
Hideo Kojima represents one of Konami’s biggest all-stars, but the company’s recent restructuring has jeopardized everything–including the fate of the Metal Gear Solid franchise.
Essentially Konami is changing, and Kojima Productions was directly affected by the restructuring. Who knows what other games, studios and franchises this shuffle will affect moving forward.
Without Kojima the Japanese publisher will have a hard time keeping gamers interesting in the Metal Gear Solid series, and the company is already soiling its reputation by obfuscating the truth.
The restructuring has put even more stress on key team members, too. Konami’s new regime has created an environment that fosters the “undivided attention to development”. This pretty much lending credence to the reports of in-office e-mail, phone and internet being restricted for the employees.
With this in mind it’s no wonder Hideo Kojima called it quits.
Source: Kotaku
