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Nikkei: Hideo Kojima Leaves Konami, Starts New Company
posted on by Karen Ressler
The Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei reported on Wednesday that game creator Hideo Kojima left Konami on Tuesday, December 15. He has started a new game company with an unspecified number of his former team at Konami
The rights to Kojima's Metal Gear series remain with Konami, so the new company is working on a new title. The company is in final negotiations with Sony Computer Entertainment to make games for PlayStation platforms.
A report by The New Yorker in October claimed that Kojima had left the Konami Los Angeles Studio on October 9, after a farewell ceremony. Konami later denied the report, saying that at the time, Kojima was taking "an extended vacation."
The New Yorker also reported that Kojima's contract and non-compete clause with Konami will expire in December, after which he can make games at another studio.
An anonymous source within Konami claimed in March that Kojima would leave Konami after completing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, with Kojima's contract with Konami allegedly ending in December. Konami stated later that same month that Kojima Productions and other internal companies have had their names changed as part of Konami's restructuring. Konami said in November that it has closed its Konami Los Angeles Studio, formerly named Kojima Productions Los Angeles.
The phrase "A Hideo Kojima Game" was also removed from the game titles on Konami America's Metal Gear Solid page and when Konami restructured in March, Kojima was no longer listed as the "Executive Content Officer" of Konami. Video Game Awards producer Geoff Keighley said earlier this month that a lawyer from Konami had informed Kojima that he would not be allowed to attend the awards ceremony, where Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain won two out of the three awards for which it was nominated.
[Via Hachima Kikō]
