Updates: Kojima Removes His Name From Metal Gear 5’s Branding, But What Does It Mean?
Update 20/03/15: Konami has released a statement via their official website addressing the issue in full, where they say “they will continue to develop and distribute top-quality content in the METAL GEAR series following “MGSV: TPP.” They also added that “As the next step in the series, KONAMI has already resolved to develop a new “METAL GEAR” title.“
You can read the statement in full from Konami below:
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 1, 2015 in North America, Latin America, and Europe, followed by Japan and Asia on Wednesday, September 2. Hideo Kojima will remain involved throughout.
In addition, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. 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 a new “METAL GEAR” title.
We will be conducting auditions for main staff to lead the development.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact us to via the recruitment page of the KONAMI official website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please submit an inquiry via the “Contact Us” page.
Update 19/03/15: GameStop claim to have an inside source that informs them that Hideo Kojima will be leaving Konami on a permanent basis. Well I say permanent, because it is believed that much of the Kojima Productions staff will end their permanent contracts following the release of The Phantom Pain in September, but some (including Kojima) will be employed on a temporary basis according to GameSpot.
My many the problems apparently stem from a power struggle between Konami and Kojima Productions, which has resulted in some drastic changes. Below is what the source had to say:
“After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December,“
“At a team meeting, Mr Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans.“
You can read more over at GameSpot.
Original Story 19/03/15: Following some posts on Reddit and NeoGAF, it seems that Hideo Kojima has removed his name from the Metal Gear Solid 5 branding (as seen in the images above), for both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain. Previously for both games, they were labelled as “A Hideo Kojima Game”, but no more it seems. His name has not only been removed from advertising, but also from the new Konami website.
Also to add to the story, Hideo Kojima’s name does not appear on Konami’s updated list of corporate officers, which is effective April 1st, which has led many to believe that he is no longer an executive nor director at Kojima Productions. Even Kojima Productions name no longer appears on their website, instead you are directed to the official Konami website and also the official Kojima Productions Twitter account is now the Metal Gear Solid Twitter account. That’s not all, because the Kojima Productions LA Studio which launched in September 2013 to aid the development of MGSV, has now been renamed Konami Los Angeles Studio.
Eurogamer got in touch with Konami and received two statements. While neither of the statements deny Hideo Kojima is leaving (or planning on leaving) Kojima Productions, they do perhaps indicate that he is leaving the studio in terms of name branding and developing, at least until the release of The Phantom Pain on September 1st. Below are both of the statements:
“Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements.” Then they said “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.“
Personally what I believe is that while some alarm bells will ring, it’s certainly not the be all and end all for Kojima fans or Hideo Kojima for that matter. In fact, that despite his word not being taken as gospel, he has indicated that this will be his last Metal Gear Solid game more then once. So now perhaps his words will be taken more seriously in that regard. However, I also believe that he will not be leaving Konami, as he still has Silent Hills to work on, so now all his attention can be focused on that project once The Phantom Pain has finished development.
Yet it wouldn’t surprise me that once the development torch is passed, Kojima might still be around in some sort of advisory role for new Metal Gear Solid games or remakes. I guess we’ll have to wait and see, and as always we’ll be here to update you when we know more.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will release September 1st for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, then September 15th on Steam.
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