UPDATE: Kojima to leave Konami after MGSV, senior staff made contractors

Started by Dr. Pezus, Mar 19, 2015, 01:29 PM

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Dr. Pezus

Update 2:
Quote
A fallout between Kojima Productions and its owning publisher, Konami, has led to senior staff at the studio being restricted access to corporate internet, emails, and phone, GameSpot understands.

Along with the restricted communications, key developers at the studio, such as Hideo Kojima, will now have limited opportunities to lend their appearance to promotions of the studio's upcoming game, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Power struggles between Kojima Productions and Konami have led the publisher to make drastic changes, including the employee status of its Metal Gear team. Some senior staff at the studio, including Kojima, now essentially work as contractors, not permanent employees.

The extraordinary measures were revealed by a source within the studio, speaking to GameSpot on the condition of anonymity. The person explained that, once the Phantom Pain project is finished, in all likelihood the management at the studio will disband.

"After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December," the source claimed.

The person added: "At a team meeting, Mr Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans."


http://www.gamespot.com/articles/koj.../1100-6426024/


Update: Konami has responded to the rumours, apparently stating that "Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements", but declined to comment on the changes detailed below.

http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/release/2015/0304/?cm_sp=01-_-release-_-20150304-e

March 4, 2015
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. hereby announces the following executive appointments.
1. Executive Appointments (Effective April 1, 2015)
Representative Director, President
Hideki Hayakawa (Preferment)
Director
Katsunori Okita
Director
Yoshihiko Ota (Newly appointed)
Director
Shinya Tanabe
Director
Masato Kubota
Standing Corporate Auditor
Ryuji Kizu
Corporate Auditor
Shinichi Furukawa

2. Corporate Officers (Effective April 1, 2015)
Executive Officer
Katsunori Okita
Executive Officer
Sadaaki Kaneyoshi
Corporate Officer
Shoji Dewa (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Masato Okuaki (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Kazutaka Kubota (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Shinji Hirano (Newly appointed)

3. Regarding the President and Representative Director
Hideki Hayakawa (Born June 17, 1970)
September, 1996
Joined KONAMI CORPORATION
November, 2011
Corporate Officer,
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
November, 2013
Senior Corporate Officer,
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
July, 2014
Representative Director, Vice President
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.http://www.konami-digital-entertainm...e-_-20150304-e

March 4, 2015
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. hereby announces the following executive appointments.
1. Executive Appointments (Effective April 1, 2015)
Representative Director, President
Hideki Hayakawa (Preferment)
Director
Katsunori Okita
Director
Yoshihiko Ota (Newly appointed)
Director
Shinya Tanabe
Director
Masato Kubota
Standing Corporate Auditor
Ryuji Kizu
Corporate Auditor
Shinichi Furukawa

2. Corporate Officers (Effective April 1, 2015)
Executive Officer
Katsunori Okita
Executive Officer
Sadaaki Kaneyoshi
Corporate Officer
Shoji Dewa (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Masato Okuaki (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Kazutaka Kubota (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Shinji Hirano (Newly appointed)

3. Regarding the President and Representative Director
Hideki Hayakawa (Born June 17, 1970)
September, 1996
Joined KONAMI CORPORATION
November, 2011
Corporate Officer,
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
November, 2013
Senior Corporate Officer,
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
July, 2014
Representative Director, Vice President
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.

Here he was the  'Executive Content Officer': http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/profile.html

Max King of the Wild


Dr. Pezus

First of all, Konami has removed all credit pointing to Kojima Productions from its website. Secondly, Hideo Kojima games have been removed from the Konami website. Social media accounts have also been changed, and the Kojima Productions credit has been removed from the official Japanese website for Metal Gear Solid V.

On top of all of that, Kojima has been removed from Konami's list of executives.

Max King of the Wild


First of all, Konami has removed all credit pointing to Kojima Productions from its website. Secondly, Hideo Kojima games have been removed from the Konami website. Social media accounts have also been changed, and the Kojima Productions credit has been removed from the official Japanese website for Metal Gear Solid V.

On top of all of that, Kojima has been removed from Konami's list of executives.
kojima is really taking it far this time

Rorono

MS bought TPP exclusivity for X1 and Kojima resigned in protest

DD_Bwest

this is interesting..  hopefully we get some real news as to wtf is going on..

Dr. Pezus


this is interesting..  hopefully we get some real news as to wtf is going on..
Welp

Dr. Pezus

Konami is nothing without Kojima.

Their Pro Evo games are all but dead and  the only other major franchise they have is MGS which will likely die a slow death with Kojima gone

DD_Bwest

wow..  I wonder what will become of silent hills.  I guess thats dead..

Legend

Wtf?

Kojima is konami.

This sounds like a stupid mess that will drag on for years.

DD_Bwest





Dr. Pezus

RIP in peace Konami

DD_Bwest


RIP in peace Konami
some on gaf are saying Komani is moving away from video games, so this could all be aa directional choice.   I hope they go bankrupt though so sony can buy up some of the IP's for cheap lol

maybe we can dream that sony will make Kojima an offer for his own studio with no leash lol

Mmm_fish_tacos

Well lets hope sony drops in and opens a studio for him.

Raven


wow..  I wonder what will become of silent hills.  I guess thats dead..


Del Toro is doing that one. Kojima just had a hand in it.