Topic: Hideo Kojima expected to leave Konami after the release of MGS V

[Phil]

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-expected-to-leave-konami-after-mgs5-inside-/1100-6426024/

I wouldn't say I never thought I'd see the day, but it's an end of an era, for sure.

[Luigi Dude]

Doesn't surprise me.  After they killed Hudson, the management of Konami made it clear they didn't give a **** about the videogame market anymore.  The thing about Konami is they aren't a pure gaming company, in Japan they have several other non gaming related businesses that are successful like Fitness Centers and Real Estate.

So with Kojima gone, Konami has officially left the videogame market.  Outside of their older games being uploaded to whatever DDL service there is, it's pretty much over.

[ShyGuy]

Yeah, they need to license out or sell off their properties. Castlevania, Silent Hill, Contra, Metal Gear...

[broodwars]

Yeah, they need to license out or sell off their properties. Castlevania, Silent Hill, Contra, Metal Gear...

Allegedly, Silent Hills still exists, but given that it's a Kojima game who the **** knows anymore?

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

well **** who cares if "3rd" parties make games if the ones that matter don't exist anymore. This is not good news.

[Shaymin]

Allegedly, the deal del Toro made for Silent Hills is with Konami, not Kojima. But who knows at this point.

[Triforce Hermit]

Wasn't this the same man who said he will make games until the day he dies?

[Adrock]

Wasn't this the same man who said he will make games until the day he dies?

Hideo Kojima can still make video games even if he isn't with Konami anymore.

This is probably the best thing for Kojima. He has wanted to step away from Metal Gear for since Sons of Liberty. His team couldn't carry the torch without him so every time he tried to move to something new, they begged him to come back. Who wants to see their baby in incapable hands? I think it's similar to how Sakurai views Super Smash Bros., except he was welcomed back, something that doesn't seem likely to between Konami and Hideo Kojima (right now anyway).

The main story ended with Guns of the Patriots (yes, I realize Revengeance takes place after) while Phantom Pain fills in the last major time gap in the series' canon. It's fitting to end the series here and for Kojima to move on to other projects. He'll have no problem finding funding and a publisher. Even if he somehow does, Nintendo likes picking up passion projects abandoned by other publishers (e.g. Bayonetta 2, Devil's Third). As long as Kojima wants to make games, he'll be able to make games.

[Evan_B]

This is also the man who single-handedly ensured that if video games were going to be "epic" their plot would have to make no sense and feature the most stereotypical Hollywood dialogue ever scripted.

[NWR_insanolord]

Is Platinum going to net itself another big-name Japanese developer?

[Shaymin]

Platinum can't afford his day rates.

[Triforce Hermit]

-snip-

Meant it as a more serious question. I thought he said that after Miyamoto talked about his retirement.

Anyways, Konami commented

To Customers,
Thank you for your continued patronage of KONAMI products and services.
The latest title in the METAL GEAR series,ā€œMETAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAINā€ (below, ā€œMGSV: TPPā€), will be released as planned starting on Tuesday, September 1st, 2015 in North America, Latin America, and Europe, followed by Japan and Asia on Wednesday, September 2nd. Hideo Kojima will remain involved throughout.
Hideo Kojima stated, "I want to reassure fans that I am 100% involved and will continue working on METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN; Iā€™m determined to make it the greatest game Iā€™ve directed to date. Donā€™t miss it!"
In addition, KONAMI will continue to develop and distribute top-quality content in the METAL GEAR series following ā€œMGSV: TPP.ā€ 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 new ā€œMETAL GEARā€.
We will be conducting interviews for main staff to lead the development.

Maybe I'm reading in between the lines here, but Kojima said he wanted to make a remake of Metal Gear 1 and 2. Maybe he will do those and leave.I don't know. I'm just speculating. Series needs to end though. I feel like MGS5 itself is beating a dead horse.

[Evan_B]

MGS4 was beating an old horse, but yeah, it's pretty much dead by now.

[Khushrenada]

Hey now. Don't knock beating a dead horse until you've tried it. It's surprisingly rewarding.

[Evan_B]

Khush, I've knocked a dead horse until I was beat. It's not worth it.