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Metal Gear series creator Hideo Kojima has officially left Konami as of Dec. 15, according to a report from Japan's Nikkei.

According to Nikkei, Kojima is establishing a new studio and is in talks with PlayStation maker Sony Computer Entertainment.

In October, The New Yorker reported that Kojima was leaving Konami and that his non-compete clause would end in December. Konami refuted the report, saying that Kojima was still an employee.

Kojima's relationship with Konami began to show strain in March, when the publisher announced a corporate restructuring and removed Kojima Productions' branding from Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain promotional materials. The following month, Konami canceled Kojima's collaboration with Guillermo del Toro, Silent Hills, suggesting further turmoil. Later, in July, Kojima Productions was reportedly disbanded.

Polygon has reached out to Konami for comment on Nikkei's report and will update with any new details.

Polygon