What the hell?
“After we finish [Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain], Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami,” a source within Kojima Productions toldGameSpottoday amidst speculation that some real crazy shit is happening at the publisher. “They said their contract ends in December.”
There have reportedly been a “fallout” and “power struggles” between Kojima Productions and Konami, which have led to some seniorMetal Gearstaff, including series creator Hideo Kojima, to be designated “essentially [as] contractors, not permanent employees,” according to the source.
Staggering. Just staggering. And there’s more: Kojima isno longer listedas an executive of Konami. Kojima Productions Los Angeles is now named “Konami Los Angeles Studios,” and its@Kojima_Pro_LiveTwitter account has “moved” to@metalgear_en. Lastly, online marketing materials forThe Phantom Painhave excisedthe standard “A Hideo Kojima game” descriptor.
In a statement to press, Konami said it is “shifting [its] production structure to a headquarters-controlled system…” and added that “Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima) will continue to develop and supportMetal Gearproducts.”
