After reports surfaced earlier today about Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima officially leaving Konami and starting a new game studio; the final word came down when PlayStation worldwide CEO Andrew House announced the news alongside a slightly more bearded Kojima. Check out the big reveal below:
The new studio (officially named KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS) will remain independent, but its debut game will be exclusive to the PlayStation brand. Hideo himself took to twitter to confirm December 15 as the termination date of his contract with Konami. In addition to the announcement a new website for the studio launched with a message for gamers direct from Kojima himself. No doubt more will uploaded to the site, but for now alongside the message are several job opening listings for various positions in the studio.
It could be speculated that the timing of the announcement could have indicated this to be something PlayStation wanted to announce at PSX to which Konami exercised legal muscle to prevent. It would explain the missing 15 minutes of the PlayStation keynote and the “one more video” message that rolled right before that show opened. Regardless it’s wonderful for the industry to see one of its most visionary creators in good spirits and optimistic about the future of gaming despite being put through months of turmoil by his former employ.
