Hideo Kojima is one of the best known names in the video game industry. The Japanese game designer has helmed several well-known franchises, but he is perhaps best known as the creator of the immensely popular Metal Gear Solid series.

Kojima is so closely associated with that series, in fact, that the box art on several of the games includes the words “A Hideo Kojima Game” in prominent letters directly below the title. But according to recent changes by games’ publisher, Konami Corp., that seems to no longer be the case.

Konami has removed all mentions of Kojima from the promotional material for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and his name no longer appears on Konami’s most recent list of corporate officers.

Konami has made no official announcements regarding Kojima, but it issued a statement to Eurogamer, saying, “As we have already announced, we are shifting our production structure to a headquarters’-controlled system in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business.”

Whatever that means.

“Make a good game for fans”

But there are other signs that point to a possible rift between Konami and Kojima. Gamespot reported that sources within Konami described a conflict between the studio and Kojima, saying that Metal Gear Solid 5 will be the his last. “After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December,” the source told Gamespot. “At a team meeting, Mr. Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans.”

While it has not addressed the concerns of Kojima’s continued involvement (or lack thereof) with the studio, Konami released a statement saying that Metal Gear Solid 5 will not be the last installment in the series, saying, “[We] will continue to develop and distribute top-quality content in the Metal Gear series following MGSV: TPP. We greatly anticipate and deeply appreciate your ongoing support for Metal Gear.”

This has led to many fans questioning whether the series could maintain the same level of quality without the creator who has steered the series for nearly three decades.

Image credit: “Hideo Kojima 20100702 Japan Expo 1” by Georges Seguin (Okki) – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.