Hideo Kojima launches new studio and partners with Sony. PS4/PC targeted.

TheGeneral

TheGeneral

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Originally reported that Kojima is rumoured to be starting a new studio after leaving Konami. In a way, this may turn out to be a good thing. I would be interested in a fresh new IP from Kojima.

In October, Metal Gear Solid mastermind Hideo Kojima's time at Japanese game company Konami reportedly came to an end with a farewell party, though a non-compete clause meant that the famed developer hasn't been able to talk much about the situation. That clause was reported to end in December — and it looks like it's up. According to a report from Nikkei, Kojima has not only officially left Konami, but is starting his own studio outside of his longtime employer.

The news isn't exactly surprising given the clearly rocky relationship between Konami and Kojima. Leading up to the launch of Metal Gear Solid V, the company stripped Kojima's name from the game's boxart and website, and also reportedly laid off a number of senior staff from his internal studio Kojima Productions. The company also cancelled the much-anticipated collaboration between Kojima and film director Guillermo del Toro, a reboot of horror game Silent Hill.

Most recently, Kojima was unable to accept an award for MGSV at The Game Awards in Los Angeles. "Mr. Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight, but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight's award ceremony to accept any awards," host Geoff Keighley explained. "He's still under an employment contract and it's disappointing." Konami disputed reports that Kojima had left in October, saying instead that the developer was "on vacation."

The Nikkei report doesn't provide much detail about the new studio, but does say that Kojima is currently in talks with Sony Computer Entertainment, suggesting that the venture could be under the SCE umbrella. While Kojima Productions is best known for its work on Metal Gear, the studio also branched out into interesting new directions, releasing games like the mech title Zone of the Enders and the vampire-themed portable RPG Lunar Knights.

Even if Kojima is gone and his former studio shuttered, it appears that Konami may continue the Metal Gear series without him. When the first reports that Kojima was leaving surfaced, Konami issued a statement saying that "Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products."
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http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/15/10220886/hideo-kojima-new-studio-report

UPDATE: Hideo Kojima forms new studio and partnership with Sony, confirms departure from Konami.

His next new title will be a PlayStation console exclusive, which means it will also be available on PC.
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http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/16/10270432/hideo-kojima-new-studio-playstation

Metal Gear series creator Hideo Kojima has officially moved on from Konami and has started a new independent studio. Kojima's new studio has a familiar name: Kojima Productions.

The new Kojima Productions' first title will be a new franchise and a PlayStation 4 console exclusive, according to a joint announcement with Sony Computer Entertainment.

Kojima announced his new post-Konami endeavor in a video posted to the official PlayStation YouTube channel.

"PlayStation's history is one of game innovation and great new franchises," said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, in a release. "Hideo Kojima has been a huge part of that history, and we are therefore delighted that he has chosen to bring his brand new project to life in partnership with PlayStation. We look forward to working with him on an exciting new game and warmly welcome him to the PlayStation family."

"I will be taking on a new challenge by establishing my own independent studio, and I am thrilled to be able to embark on this journey with PlayStation, who I have continued to work with all these past years," said Hideo Kojima, game designer, Kojima Productions. "I cannot wait to deliver, with PlayStation, a game that will become a compelling franchise."

Earlier today, Japan's Nikkei reported that Kojima's final day at Konami was Dec. 15 and that he was establishing a new studio.

Kojima himself confirmed that story on Twitter in a statement announcing his official departure from Konami.

"My employment contract with Konami has been terminated as of Dec 15th, so today marks a new start for me," Kojima tweeted. "I'm committed to be involved in creative activities for as long as I live. Look forward to what's coming."
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Yeah, and Andrew House is fluent in Japanese :surprise:
 
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Plainview said:
Sony spreadin' that money around!
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That's ok. I will wait for the definitive version on the Xbox One when it is released later at a lower price, includes all the DLC, and has had more time in the oven for better performance. :)
 
@KazHiraiCEO: Kojima has officially left Konami. He is officially the last exciting thing that will ever be released by Konami.
 
timmy-boy said:
Let's wait and see. I'd imagine more information will come out in the coming weeks.
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Most likely. Going by his history, he has never been tied to a platform. He likes releasing on all the platforms.
 
Kvally said:
Most likely. Going by his history, he has never been tied to a platform. He likes releasing on all the platforms.
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Well sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn't. All things being equal I would assume multiplatform but Impossible to predict who will throw money at him.
 
I'd love to see a new IP. His talent is too good to stick with one universe. I really hope he's not pressured to do more Metal Gear.
 
Kvally said:
Most likely. Going by his history, he has never been tied to a platform. He likes releasing on all the platforms.
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Whilst that is true his games need funding as he is not in Konami. He has a very good relationship with Playstation and Playstation execs and is based in Japan. I am sure Sony would love to get him on board whether that is an actual SCE owned studio or exclusive who knows but we shall see.
 
yankeessuck said:
Well sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn't. All things being equal I would assume multiplatform but Impossible to predict who will throw money at him.
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Well we know MS won't throw money his way, according to Phil Spencer at least. Unless they went with a 2nd party/1st party game, exclusive to Xbox and MIcrosoft Windows only.
 
Wonder what this means for PES?

The death of PES means that Fifa turns into a pile of crap without any competition to push EA
 
I am sure there are a few studios salivating to add him to their payroll as a "consultant" so they can put his name on the back of a box...even if it means he just nodded his head a few times when asked for input. His name in gaming is like the Good Housekeeping Seal on kitchen gear.
 
Kerosene31 said:
Wonder what this means for PES?

The death of PES means that Fifa turns into a pile of crap without any competition to push EA
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LOL, FIFA has already been ruined since all EA cares about is their Ultimate Team money printing features. I was so disappointed in FIFA16 as a non-FUT player because short of that aspect it's basically the same effin' game as FIFA15 and in some aspects worse.
 
Good news. I can't wait to see his next game... hopefully it is nothing like MGS at all.
 
Dno69 said:
I'd almost rather games be true exclusives than timed. I mean what's the point?
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From a developers standpoint it's pure revenue just for waiting. They aren't going to lose any sales in the deal.

From a console makers standpoint it gives the consumer a possible bullet point to sway them towards their console over the competition. It must work to a degree or they wouldn't continue to do it. For example, MS must have seen benefit from paying for TitanFall timed exclusivity or they wouldn't have pursued Rise of the Tomb Raider. And if the RotTR deal doesn't prove to MS to be worth what they paid then maybe we won't see another large franchise do a similar deal down the road. If we do then it would have to mean RotTR helped move consoles for MS. We will see!
 
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Nice. Kojima is the best in the world at what he does. He deserves his own studio. I wish he could have finished Silent Hills. It would have been amazing. Maybe he'll make his own game now.
 
Oblong said:
LOL, FIFA has already been ruined since all EA cares about is their Ultimate Team money printing features. I was so disappointed in FIFA16 as a non-FUT player because short of that aspect it's basically the same effin' game as FIFA15 and in some aspects worse.
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They still put way more effort into Fifa than other sports games. NHL 15 ripped out every feature other than UT. They didn't just focus on it, there was nothing else to play. The gameplay and improvements in NHL disappeared completely once 2k hockey died.

I'm glad I went with EA Access. I'll try their sports games when I can get them for free (minus the yearly fee of course).
 
Well this worked for Bungie. So it's probably most likely not going to work for Hideo Kojima. Lightning doesn't strike twice. Life is bittersweet bitter.
 
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