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Kojima will no longer be a Konami executive from April 1st + KojiPro is no more?

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V_Ben

Banned
Konami's PR non-answer: http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/metal...mi_responds_to_hideo_kojima_exit_rumours.html
In a statement provided to VideoGamer.com, a Konami representative said: "Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements."

More coverage from Eurogamer: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...er&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialoomph
The branding changes appear to relate to a restructure at Konami, announced earlier this month, to what the company calls "a headquarters-controlled system".

The idea seems to be that Konami should be front and centre of all branding and production efforts, not individual studios such as Kojima's Kojima Productions. This, in part, would explain the removal of "A Hideo Kojima game" tagline, used in all Metal Gear Solid games up to this point.

And it looks like the Kojima Productions LA studio, set up in September 2013 assist Kojima Productions with Metal Gear development, has been renamed Konami Los Angeles Studio.

The Kojima Productions LA studio appears to have been renamed to Konami Los Angeles Studio.
Konami issued Eurogamer a follow-up statement on the changes:
"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."

Also worth noting: http://www.konami-digital-entertain...se/2015/0303/?cm_sp=01-_-release-_-20150303-e
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. hereby announces the following organizational restructuring and personnel changes.

Organizational Restructuring (Effective March 16, 2015)
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.
Production Division 1(New Division)
Production Division 2(New Division)
Production Division 3(New Division)
Production Management Division(New Division)
Sales Division(New Division)
Public Relations and Promotion Division
Intellectual Property Division(New Division)


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Mod Abuse Updates:
MGS5 Splash Page back in Feb: http://web.archive.org/web/20150223193621/http://www.konami.jp/mgs5/

MGS5 Splash Page now: http://www.konami.jp/mgs5/

Look at the footer.
Something has definitely happened. KojiPro's site is now gone and it just redirects to a new MGS portal

http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/japanese/

The old KojiPro site also had a link to follow Kojima on Twitter while the MGS portal only has the one for the MGS Twitter account.
Seems like they have removed traces of "A Hideo Kojima game" from Legacy Collection and Ground Zeroes related pages too. Crazy.

Before: http://web.archive.org/web/20141129121304/https://www.konami.com/mgs/
Now: https://www.konami.com/mgs/
Not sure if this Google Cache link works, but the KPLA (Kojima Productions LA) site now redirects to Konami's main site.

Site on March 18th: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2IobEIHWoU8J:www.kjpla.konami.com/
Site now: http://www.kjpla.konami.com/


The image in the middle of the Google Cache link is this: http://i.imgur.com/SeVw7Bk.jpg
Whoa whoa there's more:

http://web.archive.org/web/20150221023132/http://konami-digital-entertainment.com/jobs.php

Feb 21st - Kojima Productions Los Angeles (West Los Angeles, CA)

http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.com/jobs.php

Now - Konami Los Angeles Studio (West Los Angeles, CA)


Yup, KojiPro as a branding is dead.


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Well, this seems odd.

http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/release/2015/0304/?cm_sp=01-_-release-_-20150304-e

March 4, 2015
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. hereby announces the following executive appointments.
1. Executive Appointments (Effective April 1, 2015)
Representative Director, President
Hideki Hayakawa (Preferment)
Director
Katsunori Okita
Director
Yoshihiko Ota (Newly appointed)
Director
Shinya Tanabe
Director
Masato Kubota
Standing Corporate Auditor
Ryuji Kizu
Corporate Auditor
Shinichi Furukawa

2. Corporate Officers (Effective April 1, 2015)
Executive Officer
Katsunori Okita
Executive Officer
Sadaaki Kaneyoshi
Corporate Officer
Shoji Dewa (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Masato Okuaki (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Kazutaka Kubota (Newly appointed)
Corporate Officer
Shinji Hirano (Newly appointed)

3. Regarding the President and Representative Director
Hideki Hayakawa (Born June 17, 1970)
September, 1996
Joined KONAMI CORPORATION
November, 2011
Corporate Officer,
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
November, 2013
Senior Corporate Officer,
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
July, 2014
Representative Director, Vice President
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.

As of this page, he was the 'Executive Content Officer'
 

Ridley327

Member
I can't imagine it being more than Kojima wanting to focus more on developing games and having the extra responsibility of being an exec was interfering with that, but who knows.
 
The twist: he's going to assume total control of the company, rename it Kojami Digitroll Entertainment Co., Ltd and bring PES, Silent Hill etc. into the MGS universe.
 

Omikaru

Member
Maybe he wants to go back to concentrating on games. He has moaned about having to do business stuff instead of creative stuff in the past.

Or MGSV really is his last because he's leaving Konami.
 
He finally did it... the crazy bastard is finally leaving Konami and freeing himself from the Metal Gear franchise... God speed Kojima!
 
bThN9Un.jpg
 
Please don't let this impact Silent Hills. :(

If he leaves Konami, what do they even have left? A bunch of IPs they aren't using and The Lords of Shadow series?
 

koutoru

Member
Thought it could be a April fools joke until I remembered most Japanese businesses fiscal year starts on April 1st.
 

Chairhome

Member
So according to that tweet, seems like Kojima Productions is shutting down or changing names, too?

SKY IS FALLING

I will follow you, Kojima. Follow you wherever you may go
 

Ramza

Banned
WAIT! I doubt he's leaving Konami. Like someone said above, he's probably just stepping back into a more creative position. I mean, he has to give us Silent Hills after all. DON'T YOU FUCK ME OVER ON THIS KOJIMA

Guess Japan does not celebrate April Fool's. It is the only explanation.

I consider the merger of Square and Enix the longest running and cruelest April Fools joke of all time.
 
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