Konami releases new statement on Hideo Kojima's status
Following reports of a rift between Hideo Kojima and Konami, the publisher has released a statement...
As we've already heard, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima is to leave Konami after nearly 30 years - making this summer's Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain his last involvement in the series.
Konami has since stated that the franchise is to continue without Kojima, with a new creative team to be assembled in the near future. Konami hasn't, understandably, commented on the rumours of a rift between itself, Kojima and his staff at Kojima Productions.
But in a new statement, Konami does talk about the seemingly drastic decision to have Kojima's name - once proudly emblazoned on Metal Gear sequels - from The Phantom Pain's marketing materials.
"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 writes. "The name and organization has changed, but as before, MGSV: TPP is continuing as a work from director Kojima and the existing team members."
The statement goes on to add that the same personnel are working on the game's social media accounts, despite their name changes, and that "Naturally, director Kojima is playing the game, checking all the small details and giving directions to the staff as the title continues to completion."
Konami's statement arrives shortly after it was announced that the director's Kojima Station broadcast has been cancelled "due to various circumstances."
Something strange is clearly going on behind the scenes. Kojima, normally an active voice on Twitter, has been strangely quiet since the 18th March, and while the reports of a rift are only rumours, the apparent disolution of Kojima Productions and the sudden cancellation of Kojima Station seems to provide at least a grain of support to those reports.
Where this leaves the survival horror sequel Silent Hills - his collaboration with Guillermo del Toro - is anybody's guess.
The Phantom Pain is out on the 1st Sptember. More Kojima news as we get it.