Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima expected to split with Konami after The Phantom Pain

What the hell?

“After we finish [Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain], Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami,” a source within Kojima Productions told today amidst speculation that some real crazy shit is happening at the publisher. “They said their contract ends in December.”

There have reportedly been a “fallout” and “power struggles” between Kojima Productions and Konami, which have led to some senior Metal Gear staff, including series creator Hideo Kojima, to be designated “essentially [as] contractors, not permanent employees,” according to the source.

Staggering. Just staggering. And there’s more: Kojima is as an executive of Konami. Kojima Productions Los Angeles is now named “Konami Los Angeles Studios,” and its Twitter account has “moved” to . Lastly, online marketing materials for The Phantom Pain the standard “A Hideo Kojima game” descriptor.

In a statement to press, Konami said it is “shifting [its] production structure to a headquarters-controlled system…” and added that “Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima) will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products.”

Welp, I’m worried about Silent Hills.

[GameSpot]