All Articles: Death Stranding

Hideo Kojima himself has confirmed that he’s left Konami to form his own studio, and that it’ll will once again carry the Kojima Productions name. Corroborating yesterday’s report from Nikkei, a short announcement video hosted by Sony Computer Entertainment President and CEO Andrew House has further revealed the developer’s partnership with Sony’s PlayStation platform. Kojima’s first project, which is only described as a “new franchise,” will be a “console-exclusive” on the PS4. This language makes it easy to assume that a PC launch for the game is also in the cards sometime down the road.

In a separate press release, House expressed excitement for the partnership: “PlayStation’s history is one of game innovation and great new franchises. 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.”

Kojima himself also seems to be looking forward to this new chapter in his career: “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. I cannot wait to deliver, with PlayStation, a game that will become a compelling franchise.”

Obviously, it is much too early to discuss specifics about Kojima’s next game. But hopefully Sony has more to say about it soon.

A mountain of evidence has accumulated over the last six months about Hideo Kojima’s pending split from Konami, and now it looks like it’s official.

According to the Nikkei (via Wired), Japan’s largest financial newspaper, Kojima finally left Konami on December 15. The newspaper also learned that the veteran developer plans to start his own studio with several of his colleagues from Kojima Productions. The name of Kojima’s next venture is currently under wraps, but the Nikkei report said the team is in “final negotiations” to produce a game for Sony’s PlayStation platform (presumably the PS4). Though it’s important to note that this doesn’t rule out a PC or Xbox One release for Kojima’s next game.

Kojima began his illustrious career at Konami in the mid 80s, quickly rising to a lead developer on the original Metal Gear. Over the next three decades, he directed nearly a dozen sequels, as well as branching out to other projects like Zone of the Enders, Snatcher, and Policenauts. Kojima was set to produce his next side project, Silent Hills, alongside film director Guillermo Del Toro, but it was canceled by Konami in the Spring.

We don’t know what Kojima has planned for his new studio, but I’m sure many would like to see him continue the ideas found in Silent Hills in some form.