A representative for the DICE Awards explains why, despite being in attendance, Hideo Kojima did not accept the 'Best Action Adventure Game' award that Metal Gear Solid 5 won.

2015 was a bumpy year for beloved video game developer Hideo Kojima. His Silent Hill reboot was canceled, his name was removed from the box art of Metal Gear Solid V, and he was let go from Konami. Since the year closed out, Kojima’s been working on moving forward: amid opening a new studio, the famed developer has teased new projects and hobnobbed with a who’s-who of multimedia, including the developers of Titanfall and director J.J. Abrams.

But after soldiering through his messy split with Konami, it only seemed appropriate that Kojima was rewarded for his valiant efforts, with the DICE Awards honoring the father of Metal Gear Solid with a lifetime achievement award. But while the presentation of his prestigious award went off without a hitch, the same could not be said for the award presented to Metal Gear Solid V.

After receiving a standing ovation upon accepting the lifetime achievement award from Guillermo del Toro at the 19th annual DICE Awards, it was expected that Kojima would return to the stage to accept when Metal Gear Solid V won for best adventure game. However, after Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner and 343 Industries executive producer Kiki Wolfkill announced the game as the winner, Kojima did not take the stage and was nowhere to be found.

With an awkward chuckle, the presenters announced that they would be accepting the award on Konami’s behalf, but viewers were left scratching their head as to what had just happened. Rumors spread that Konami had once again barred Kojima from accepting a MGS award, a la the debacle at last years Game Awards, or that Kojima had left the ceremony in a huff.

But as it turns out, the odd moment wasn’t caused by Konami interference; rather, it came down to a mix-up of sorts. Speaking with Polygon, Terrence Myers, the executive producer of the DICE Awards, revealed:

“Konami was unable to send someone to the awards and Kojima-San preferred not to accept it.”

With Konami neglecting to send a representative to accept the award and Kojima opting not to accept an award for his final Metal Gear Solid game, the DICE academy was left to come up with a solution, with Myers stating:

“The Academy thought the solution of having the presenters accept on behalf of the title was best for all parties.”

As Konami has worked to wipe Kojima from the Metal Gear Solid franchise, it's understandable that Kojima would want to distance himself from the title. But with the recently founded Kojima Productions already working on a new game, Kojima seems eager to leave the ugliness of Konami behind and forge ahead with a new chapter in his life.

Source: Polygon