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Kojima Productions veteran Ken Imaizumi ‘departs’ following Death Stranding

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

Imaizumi, who has been a well-known figure at Kojima Productions for almost 20 years, was a founding member of the new independent Kojima Productions. As corporate director, he oversaw all production on Death Stranding.

During the studio’s previous incarnation at Konami, Imaizumi worked on every Metal Gear Solid title since 2001’s Sons of Liberty. Most recently, he was producer for Guns of the Patriots, The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Rising.

The reason for the veteran’s departure remains unclear, but one source claimed it was due to a disagreement with Kojima Productions’ other directors.

Significantly, Imaizumi – usually a common face at Kojima Productions’ public events and on social media – was absent from Hideo Kojima’s recent promotional world tour for Death Stranding.

Neither Kojima Productions nor Imaizumi responded to requests for comment on this story.
 

Bryank75

Banned

Imaizumi, who has been a well-known figure at Kojima Productions for almost 20 years, was a founding member of the new independent Kojima Productions. As corporate director, he oversaw all production on Death Stranding.

During the studio’s previous incarnation at Konami, Imaizumi worked on every Metal Gear Solid title since 2001’s Sons of Liberty. Most recently, he was producer for Guns of the Patriots, The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Rising.

The reason for the veteran’s departure remains unclear, but one source claimed it was due to a disagreement with Kojima Productions’ other directors.

Significantly, Imaizumi – usually a common face at Kojima Productions’ public events and on social media – was absent from Hideo Kojima’s recent promotional world tour for Death Stranding.

Neither Kojima Productions nor Imaizumi responded to requests for comment on this story.
Disappointing. Maybe they can reconcile down the road...
 

Abriael_GN

RSI Employee of the Year

Imaizumi, who has been a well-known figure at Kojima Productions for almost 20 years, was a founding member of the new independent Kojima Productions. As corporate director, he oversaw all production on Death Stranding.

During the studio’s previous incarnation at Konami, Imaizumi worked on every Metal Gear Solid title since 2001’s Sons of Liberty. Most recently, he was producer for Guns of the Patriots, The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Rising.

The reason for the veteran’s departure remains unclear, but one source claimed it was due to a disagreement with Kojima Productions’ other directors.

Significantly, Imaizumi – usually a common face at Kojima Productions’ public events and on social media – was absent from Hideo Kojima’s recent promotional world tour for Death Stranding.

Neither Kojima Productions nor Imaizumi responded to requests for comment on this story.

Allegedly, by some website that brings absolutely no evidence to substantiate a fully anonymous "source."

It's the beginning of the Thanksgiving weekend, so people who aren't good at actual news are gonna pull out a lot of "sources" over the next few days. Handfuls of salt required.
 
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-Arcadia-

Banned
Nothing lasts forever. People move on and do different things, or have creative disagreements. Even Hideo will stop making games someday.

It’s important to remind ourselves to be thankful for what we’ve already experienced, and not assume it will last forever.

Hopefully this talent finds a good place to land. Platinum, maybe?
 

Mass Shift

Member
Normal. Creative disagreements. Constantly in Kojima's shadow. Perhaps even boredom.

I won't even be shocked by significant departures from Naughty Dog at this point. Some of those people have been working on one franchise for nearly 12 years and over two generations now.

It happens.
 

its_Ditz

Member
Hopefully he didn't burn any B.R.I.D.G.E.S.

what-you-did-there-i-see-it.thumbnail.jpg
 

Bryank75

Banned
Allegedly, by some website that brings absolutely no evidence to substantiate a fully anonymous "source."

It's the beginning of the Thanksgiving weekend, so people who aren't good at actual news are gonna pull out a lot of "sources" over the next few days. Handfuls of salt required.
Are you ok dude? Haven't seen you on here in a while?
 

ksdixon

Member
Wasn't this rumored to be because the guy didn't agree with working with Konami again on SH reboot, when Kojima wanted to?
 

OrionNebula

Member
Wasn't this rumored to be because the guy didn't agree with working with Konami again on SH reboot, when Kojima wanted to?

I read that too.
But it can’t be true, as Konami said there’s no Silent Hill game in the work and I 100% trust what Konami says
 
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