[Scarlett.]

Also Kojima's name is being removed from Metal Gear Solid... what's going on?

[Mokka]

Is it a renaming or a company buy out or merge?

My house has several Konami gaming products already... so the name already existed.

[Scarlett.]

Kojima Productions is a production arm of Konami already, and Kojima himself is Vice President of Konami (at least he seems to still be), it could be that Konami just want their name to be more prominent, given they don't really have any other studios anymore, but removing "A Hideo Kojima Game" seems very strange.

[Mokka]

Ah... I see. Makes sense to me really. If your going to go under one name for prominence, you want your most popular product(s) to be under that name.

[Scarlett.]

That's true, but removing "A Hideo Kojima Game" just seems odd, its been there since MGS2, that was before Kojima Productions was ever a thing



It's as if they don't want his name on anything. Taking his name off the upcoming MGSV seems wrong too.

[Mokka]

I see where your coming from as a fan, but I think Kojima recognizes that business wise it doesn't make sense to keep his name prominent. They will get a bigger slice of the pie by creating a brand that is a household name brand, and he will become all the richer for it

[Scarlett.]

A fallout between Kojima Productions and its owning publisher, Konami, has led to senior staff at the studio being restricted access to corporate internet, emails, and phone, GameSpot understands.

Along with the restricted communications, key developers at the studio, such as Hideo Kojima, will now have limited opportunities to lend their appearance to promotions of the studio’s upcoming game, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

Power struggles between Kojima Productions and Konami have convinced the publisher to make drastic changes, including amending the employee status of its Metal Gear team. Some senior staff at the studio, including Kojima, now essentially work as contractors, not permanent employees.

The extraordinary measures were revealed by a source within Konami, speaking to GameSpot on the condition of anonymity. The person explained that, once the Phantom Pain project is finished, in all likelihood the management at the studio will disband.

"After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December," the source claimed.

The person added: "At a team meeting, Mr Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans."

In other developments, Konami has begun removing the Kojima Productions logo from all official Metal Gear art, and it has removed Kojima from its executive team. Meanwhile, Kojima Productions’ branding has also been removed from Twitter, the official Metal Gear website, and even the LA office listing.

Representatives for Konami would not discuss specifics of the matter when contacted by GameSpot. The corporation has offered a statement, however.

It reads: "Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements."

The corporation's public relations team, based in Tokyo, is unavailable at the time of going to press, due to it being past midnight local time.

Metal Gear Solid 5, Kojima’s latest iteration in the famed series, ships in September on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

An expanded statement from Konami follows: "As we have already announced, we are shifting our production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business. Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima), will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements."

Gamespot

[Samuel.]

Hideo Kojima's name on the covers and promotional stuff is iconic in gaming. You don't just disregard that.

[Scarlett.]

I don't think the overly precious CEOs of Konami realised what they have done.

[Mokka]

So this is something different than what I understood earlier...
Hope Kojima finds or creates a new home to use his talents in

[Scarlett.]

http://www.konami-digital-entertainm...ics/2015/0320/

So it seems they will crash this series into the ground too, like they did Silent Hill and Castlevania.

[Ramsay]

**** THAT with a capital **** THAT **** **** ****

[Scarlett.]

I really hope Kojima has written The Phantom Pain as a true end to the series.

lol @ this