It appears Hideo Kojima might be parting ways with Konami – hard to believe, we know, but various things seem to be pointing in this direction. Rumors first popped up regarding the Metal Gear creator’s potential departure from the company when his name (“A Hideo Kojima game”) suddenly disappeared from the website of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, as well as Ground Zeroes, along with the Kojima Productions logo. Similarly, the Kojima Productions website now leads to the Konami website, with its official Twitter account having been moved to a general Metal Gear Solid-themed account.
Later on, Konami responded to the rumors by stating that there’s a restructuring going on at the company, and that "Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima), will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products.”. No comment was made regarding the disappearing Kojima logo.
However, an unknown source has since contacted GameSpot, claiming that there has been a falling out between Konami and Kojima Productions, with the latter being given restricted access to corporate internet, emails and phone calls: Kojima and his team are now working as a contractors, not actual employees. After Metal Gear Solid V is finished, Kojima and upper management will be leaving Konami – the contract ends in December, the source claims.
