Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom pain is out now, and its release marks the end of the series under the stewardship of its creator, Hideo Kojima.
In case you’ve somehow remained oblivious to the news, publisher Konami and Kojima have parted ways, with Kojima’s studio, Kojima Productions, disbanding too. Why? Well, no one really knows, but it’s widely suggested that both parties fell out, over delays, monetary issues and the like. While it’s not entirely clear what’s happened behind the scenes, it’s led to some awkward scenarios, with Kojima’s name removed from the box art of Metal Gear Solid V as well as interviews.
It’s a disappointing ending to one of gaming’s most successful partnerships, but it hasn’t entirely dampened Kojima’s spirits, with The Phantom Pain receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews. In his most recent video, titled ‘Debriefing’, Hideo Kojima discusses the influence of Metal Gear with some of the most prominent and influential critics in the industry.
“Rest assured that I’ve been working on making MGS V the best that it can possible be, balancing and tweaking it right until the very end,” Kojima says in the video.
“Players will not be disappointed. I am sorry we took so long, but I feel we’ve created something very special, and I hope everyone will enjoy it.”
