Hideo Kojima is one of the few examples of the video game director as auteur, so it’s no surprise that his clashes with management were frequent. Earlier this year, cracks began to show in Kojima’s long working relationship with Konami.
First Kojima’s name was removed from branding for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Later the Kojima Productions logo was removed from the Silent Hills website, shortly before the game was canceled altogether. Now the Japanese voice of Solid Snake, Akio Otsuka, has tweeted that Kojima Productions is no more.
“Kojima Productions got dissolved,” the translated tweet reads. “and due to the team’s hard effort, the game is just about finished. This is no exaggeration, but it’s bound to be a supreme masterpiece! I can’t help it if I want to say, ‘I kept you waiting.’ (lol) Even if this is the last time … MGS lives forever!”
The translation loses something, as Kotaku reports that the actor used the word “kaisan,” which also means “break-up.” Likening the possible dissolution of the studio to a band breaking up certainly fits better with the tone of the rest of the tweet.
For its part, Konami has yet to confirm anything related to Kojima Productions’ possible closure. This doesn’t mean much, however, as the company refused to comment on Silent Hills‘ cancellation before confirming it only a short time later.
Konami has been tight-lipped about its relationship with Kojima since the rumors began, and it’s likely that the company would prefer to keep things quiet until after Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain‘s release in September.
Whether or not Kojima Productions continues, Konami has every intention to continue making Metal Gear games. “After the release of MGSV: TPP, Konami plans to also continue releasing titles in the Metal Gear series,” the company said in a statement released in March. ” We would like to offer our deep gratitude for your continued support of the Metal Gear series.”
