Konami’s behind-the-scenes saga with one of its star developers continues, and I’m not skipping the cutscenes.
The company just issued a new statement about the state of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Konami reconfirmed the stealth-action game is due out in September. The company then shared the first statement from Kojima since rumors arose that he is leaving the company he made his career with.
“I want to reassure fans that I am 100 percent involved and will continue working on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain,” he said in the statement. “I’m determined to make it the greatest game I’ve directed to date. Don’t miss it!”
But neither Konami or Kojima addressed the status of the Metal Gear creators employment. Yesterday, website GameSpot reported he was working as a contract developer, and that he — and other Kojima Productions leaders — would exit Konami in December when their current deals were up.
Konami did confirm that it will continue to make Metal Gear games after The Phantom Pain, but it did not say that Kojima would work on them.
“We greatly anticipate and deeply appreciate your ongoing support for Metal Gear,” reads the press release.
The company reiterated that it is looking for new staffers to lead development on the next games.
While the company says it will not stop making Metal Gear games, Kojima leaving would have an affect on the future of that series. Not to mention the announced Silent Hills horror-game sequel that Konami revealed last year and said Kojima was producing.
But Konami, like a lot of Japanese companies, is no longer focused on console gaming. It is embracing mobile and putting more emphasis on its casino and pachinko divisions. Spending $100 million to develop a triple-A game is likely too risky for Konami, and it is probably looking for ways to cut back.