Japanese games publisher Konami has been at the center of a recent controversy leading to speculation that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has left the company.

The news was given further credence when Kojima’s name had mysteriously been scrubbed from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s box art and the official website for Kojima Productions, MGS V‘s development team, had been taken down.

It’s since been revealed that Kojima Productions is no more and has been absorbed by Konami.

Despite no longer spear-heading development at Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima will be contracted to work on future Metal Gear Solid games. He will not reprise his role as a Konami executive while working in this capacity.

Kotaku reports that Konami has finally delivered official word after being persistently taciturn on the subject, but their responses are quite vague and deflective.

今回ＫＯＮＡＭＩ全社での制作体制の変更に伴い、小島プロダクションも他社内プロダクションと同様に、制作本部体制へと移行した為、名称なども変更となりました。組織・名称は変更となりましたが、これまで通りMGSV:TPPは小島監督の元、従来のメンバーにより制作が進められています。

— メタルギア公式 (@metalgear_jp) March 25, 2015

“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 said in a recent Tweet.

The studio confirmed what we knew already, saying that Kojima is continuing to work on The Phantom Pain with the existing members of Kojima Productions.

“The name and organization has changed, but as before, MGSV: TPP is continuing as a work from director Kojima and the existing team members.”

小島監督も自らゲームをプレー、細部まで確認・スタッフへ指示を出し完成に向けて制作を進めています。小島監督の思いとアイデア、かつてないボリュームをオープンワールドでお届けするTPPの制作は本当に大変ですが、監督をはじめチーム一丸となり完成を目指していますので温かく応援をお願いします

— メタルギア公式 (@metalgear_jp) March 25, 2015

“Director Kojima is playing the game, checking all the small details and giving directions to the staff as the title continues to completion.

“Bringing the thoughts and ideas of director Kojima in an open world game of the size of TPP is incredibly difficult, the director and the team that’s been there from the start are coming together as one as they aim to finish the game, so please give them the support they need.”

Konami pretty much asserts what we already know, talking in so much PR-speak that it’s hard to actually get a straight answer.

It’s strange how they keep dancing around the points, but seeing as Kojima has such a huge impact on the company as a whole, it’s not surprising Konami wants to keep the surprise under wraps as long as possible.

And there’s still no official word on whether or not Silent Hills is still in the works or not. We probably won’t ever hear official clarification on that one.

Hideo Kojima represents one of Konami’s biggest all-stars, but the company’s recent restructuring has jeopardized everything–including the fate of the Metal Gear Solid franchise.

Essentially Konami is changing, and Kojima Productions was directly affected by the restructuring. Who knows what other games, studios and franchises this shuffle will affect moving forward.

Without Kojima the Japanese publisher will have a hard time keeping gamers interesting in the Metal Gear Solid series, and the company is already soiling its reputation by obfuscating the truth.

The restructuring has put even more stress on key team members, too. Konami’s new regime has created an environment that fosters the “undivided attention to development”. This pretty much lending credence to the reports of in-office e-mail, phone and internet being restricted for the employees.

With this in mind it’s no wonder Hideo Kojima called it quits.

Source: Kotaku

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UPDATE: IGN has revealed that the PC version of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will release on September 15, 2015 whereas the console flavors will release on the previously revealed Sept. 1 date.

Also to make the sting more pronounced, PC gamers won’t be getting physical copies or the handsome MGSV: TPP collector’s edition, which is featured above.

Finally we have the video interview that IGN accidentally leaked yesterday, where Hideo Kojima sheds more light on the entirety of the series and how it was created. It’s an interesting look at the heart of Metal Gear and it adds more depth to our excitement for The Phantom Pain.

Original story is as follows.

Thanks to a premature video upload that was spotted by NeoGAF users, IGN has accidentally leaked the release date of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to the world just a bit ago.

According to the footage, fans can expect to play Snake’s new tactical espionage adventure on Sept. 1, 2015 worldwide across consoles, and Sept. 15 on PC. Yes, PC gamers have to wait a full two weeks for their port. Yikes.

The video has been taken down, but not before GAF’ers were able to slice it up and extract pieces of it to the internet.

Oddly enough it looks like a Snake won’t break his role as the strong silent type even though there’s been big hype surrounding Keifer Sutherland taking the VA helm.

MGS franchise creator Hideo Kojima had this to say about Snake’s vocal personality, saying that the tough-as-nails assassin “won’t really speak much at all” and that the “characters around him” will pretty much move the story forward.

“As much as possible, Snake will act based on the player rather than doing things like making spontaneous comments or flirting with women.

“In fact. this time, Snake won’t really speak much at all. MGS5 is an open world game focused on giving freedom to the player who will drive Snake’s action. Snake himself will be more of a silent protagonist similar to Mad Max in Mad Max 2.

“It’s the characters around him who will expand the story.”

Since Snake will be so quiet, many fans are questioning why Konami chose to go with Keifer Sutherland rather than keep David Hayter–who’s voiced the renown character since he had a voice–in his iconic role. I mean…why switch things up when Snake barely says anything anyway?

Since it was a premature leak we don’t have any new screenshots or video to show you, so take a quick look at last year’s TGS 2014 gameplay trailer and know come September, you’ll be able to do the very same things.

Source: NeoGAF 

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