Kojima Productions has reportedly been closed down as a development studio after being forced to disband. The news came courtesy of Otsuka Akio, the same actor who has lent his voice to Solid Snake and Big Boss in many of the "Metal Gear Solid" games. According to Akio, the team is nearly done putting the finishing touches on their latest work, "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain."
Akio adds that he believes the latest, and most likely the last, game from the studio will be the best one yet, and the "Metal Gear Solid" franchise will live on even with the studio behind it disbanded, according to Game Informer.
Despite Akio's latest revelations, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan has yet to officially confirm whether Kojima Productions has indeed been ordered to disband. The latest news regarding Kojima comes in the wake of numerous reports surfacing over recent months suggesting problems between Hideo Kojima, the creator of "Metal Gear Solid," and Konami, according to Gamespot.
Various reports have suggested friction between the two sides, leading to Kojima and many of the senior staff at his production company ending up being demoted to the level of contractual workers as they worked on "Metal Gear Solid V."
Several other instances of Kojima's name being taken down and then being put back on several promotions related to the latest game were also detailed in the last few months.
Konami and Kojima have remained silent about the status of their working relationship, but many within the video game industry expect the two sides to formally part ways once "Metal Gear Solid V" is officially released.
More will be known about Kojima and Konami when "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain" is officially released on September 1.
"Metal Gear Solid" is an action-adventure stealth video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami for the PlayStation in 1998. The game was directed, produced and co-written by Hideo Kojima and serves as a sequel to the MSX2 versions of "Metal Gear" and "Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake," which Kojima also directed.
