Reports suggested that Hideo Kojima, the creator of Metal Gear Solid, has parted ways with the video game developer and publisher Konami. However, the Tokyo-based Konami states that Kojima has not left the company but just on vacation.
Rumors of Kojima leaving Konami have been circling for many months. Anonymous sources within Konami also suggested that Kojima will leave Konami after completing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
The New Yorker report indicates that a farewell party was also organized for Kojima's departure. The party was attended by people who worked with Kojima as well as his colleagues from many other studios. However, Hideki Hayakawa, the President of Konami, and Sadaaki Kaneyoshi, the CEO of the company, did not attend the party.
However, a Konami spokesperson claims that Kojima is still a listed employee of the company.
"Currently, Kojima and the development team are finished developing Metal Gear Solid V and are taking a long time off from work," says Konami.
Development of games can be a long process and creators of the game may face fatigue. It is normal for employees to go on an extended vacation when the development is finished, per Konami.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was released for Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Xbox One on Sept. 1 in the U.S. and Europe. The game was released in Japan on Sept. 2.
The action-adventure video game was one of the most-awaited games of 2015 and it made $179 million on the opening day globally. The first day earnings for the game are very impressive as its total budget was $80 million.
The earning seems more impressive when taking into account that the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Jurassic World" -- two biggest movies of this year -- made $84.5 million and $82 million respectively on their first day. The combined first day earnings of these two movies are also less than the total launch day earnings of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Kojima, who has worked for the game publisher since 1986, has not yet confirmed if he has in fact left Konami.
Photo: Nic Fillingham | Flickr
