Kojima Officially Leaves Konami, Forms New Studio, Reportedly Working On PlayStation Game

The saga of Konami and its (mis)handling of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain by director Hideo Kojima finally came to a close Monday. A Nikkei report released Tuesday confirms the director and game studio have officially called it quits and Kojima is now forming a new studio and is in talks with Sony for it to debut on the PlayStation 4.

The linked Google Translation of the Nikkei report does not fit well with the actual meaning of how it was originally written in Japanese. Fortunately, NeoGAF user Zefah kindly provided a more accurate translation of the report that states Kojima’s new studio will work on an all new title with people who worked under him at Konami. The rights to the Metal Gear series will remain with Konami, however.

The translation of the Nikkei report goes on to state that Kojima’s new studio is undergoing “final negotiations” with Sony Computer Entertainment for the “new game to debut on PlayStation.” That doesn’t mean the game will be a PlayStation exclusive as the report earlier states that the studio will develop video games for “platforms such as Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation.”

This does appear to indicate Kojima’s new studio first game will release as a timed PlayStation exclusive at the very least. Whether the additional platforms include the PC, Xbox One, or both remains to be seen.

The split between Konami and Kojima has been one of the most bizarre since the founders of Infinity Ward under Activision left to form Respawn Entertainment to publish Titanfall under Electronic Arts. As previously covered by The Inquisitr, rumors of Kojima leaving Konami began earlier this year in March. This was followed by Konami stripping Kojima’s name from all mentions of Metal Gear Solid V and the cancellation of Kojima Productions other title, Silent Hills. The studio was eventually made defunct by Konami and all the workers made contractors to support the final development and release of The Phantom Pain.

The fractured relationship between Konami and Kojima bordered on the bizarre with a farewell party hosted for the game director not long after the release of Metal Gear Solid V. Konami quickly disputed the reports (via Huffington Post) by explaining that Kojima was simply going on vacation despite video evidence to the contrary.

The gaming community sat back bewildered by the split up between Konami and Kojima, with notable personalities such as Electronic Arts’ Peter Moore saying the two should “kiss and make up.” The broken bridges between the two were obviously not going to mend, however, when Konami’s lawyers blocked Kojima from accepting an award for Metal Gear Solid V during The Game Awards show.

Big Boss voice actor Keifer Sutherland accepted the award in Kojima’s place and this was followed by an unscripted rant from host Geoff Keighley directed at Konami (via Kotaku).

“As you noticed,” said Keighley. “Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I want to tell you a little about that. Mr. Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight, but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight’s awards ceremony to accept any awards. He’s still under an employment contract. And it’s disappointing and it’s inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers and his fellow teammates.”

Keighley later revealed in a Reddit AmA that his speech was unscripted and unrehearsed and he didn’t inform anyone on the show team about what he was going to do.

What do you think of Kojima’s split from Konami and moving on with a new studio? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image via Metal Gear Solid]