Rumour: Kojima Leaving Konami

Well this is disheartening. Over the last few days there has been several separate rumours that all suggest the legendary game designer Hideo Kojima creator of the Metal Gear series will be leaving his long term publisher Konami.

UPDATE: Konami and Kojima have released this "joint statement" which doesn't really clear anything up but reassures us that Kojima is still involved in MGSV.

To Customers,

Thank you for your continued patronage of KONAMI products and services.

The latest title in the METAL GEAR series,“METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN” (below, “MGSV: TPP”), will be released as planned starting on Tuesday, September 1st, 2015 in North America, Latin America, and Europe, followed by Japan and Asia on Wednesday, September 2nd. Hideo Kojima will remain involved throughout.

Hideo Kojima stated, "I want to reassure fans that I am 100% involved and will continue working on METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN; I’m determined to make it the greatest game I’ve directed to date. Don’t miss it!"

In addition, KONAMI will continue to develop and distribute top-quality content in the METAL GEAR series following “MGSV: TPP.” We greatly anticipate and deeply appreciate your ongoing support for METAL GEAR.

As the next step in the series, KONAMI has already resolved to develop new “METAL GEAR”.

We will be conducting interviews for main staff to lead the development.

Kojima as he appears in Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes

ORIGINAL: This began with an anonymous tip to Gamespot which stated "power struggles" between Konami and Kojima and his management staff has resulted in Kojima and co becoming "external contractors", which will result in them leaving their long time home after MGSV's release.

IGN contacted Konami about the rumour which they gave this statement which suggests this is all an misunderstanding created from the current restructuring

"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.” 

Case closed? Well it appears not as Reddit users noted that Kojima's name had been removed from the Konami website's Metal Gear Solid box arts. Further inspection reveals that not only has his name disappeared but his entire studio Kojima Productions is no longer to be found and that it's LA based sister studio Kojima Productions: Los Angeles, which is handling the games multiplayer has been renamed Konami: Los Angeles. 

So it appears that not only is Kojima and company are leaving Konami but it's also on such "strained" terms that the company is removing all trace of them. Konami has all ready posted job listings for an all new Metal Gear series, seperate to the Metal Gear Solid games but in the same universe.

Abe's Take

This is all very sad news as Kojima is just as linked to Konami and Metal Gear as Miyamoto is to Nintendo and Mario. To see an legendary developer to leave under such "cloak and dagger" circumstances and have his name taken of the finale of his series he spent the last 3 decades is an utter shame. Obviously our thoughts are with those who are finding their jobs gone but i'm sure Kojima will find or create a new work for him and his team. 

It's also a shame that all this could all over shadow Metal Gear Solid V or scare people off

You can get MGSV: Ground Zeroes HERE

You can Pre-order MGSV: Phantom Pain HERE