Metal Gear?! Kojima And Konami Dance Around Rumours
Confirming and denying nothing
You know those rumours going around that Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima and publisher Konami have fallen out, and he'll be leaving the company after Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, throwing the series into turmoil just as it starts settling down on PC? Well!
Following statements to press saying everything was hunky-dory, Konami and Kojima have issued a public statement which carefully avoids confirming or denying the juicy bits of the rumours. It mostly says what we know: Kojima will finish MGS V, then Konami will keep on making Metal Gear games with or without him.
Hideo Kojima "will remain involved throughout" development of The Phantom Pain, Konami said.
The man himself added, "I want to reassure fans that I am 100% involved and will continue working on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain; I'm determined to make it the greatest game I've directed to date."
Konami, meanwhile, saying they "will continue to develop and distribute top-quality content in the Metal Gear series following 'MGSV: TPP'" and that they have "already resolved to develop new 'Metal Gear'." Which, sure, we'd already guessed. Kojima has said for yonks that The Phantom would be his last Metal Gear game, and it seemed unlikely that Konami would let the series end.
They don't say anything about rumours that Hideo's studio Kojima Productions and Konami, which owns it, have fallen out. They don't say anything about him, and some other Kojima top folks, leaving after The Phantom Pain. Or rumours that their corporate communications have been restricted. They don't address Konami's documented, visible attempts to ease away from the Kojima Productions name.
The statement's the kind of careful dancing around the truth that a Metal Gear Solid villain or friendly double agent would do to taunt the Snakes, and players would only realise the hidden meaning of their words - and what they don't say - later.
I don't know if I'd fancy a Metal Gear Solid without Kojima, as the last few times he tried to leave the series he came back to save it, but I'd certainly still be up for more Metal Gear Rising. It's a shame that Metal Gear Solid will likely forever be incomplete on PC, as it's a series I've grown awfully fond of from a distance. I'd be surprised if the missing games are ever ported.
In the meantime, those cheeky Arcane Kids have put together a tribute to Metal Gear Solid.