While developers splitting from their publishers is nothing new in the video game industry, the situation involving Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami is a little different. See, Kojima is still actively working on an MGS game for Konami, and yet it appears the two have already planned their split. On top of that, the blunt nature of the split – i.e. Kojima’s name being immediately removed from Konami products and studios – suggests it was anything but amicable.
Still, while we knew how Metal Gear Solid custody would shake out thanks to comments by Konami and Kojima, there was another property left hanging: Silent Hills. It was only a few months ago that Kojima revealed Silent Hills via the PT (Playable Teaser), and enthusiasm was generally high for the sequel/reboot. However, those who were excited to see Kojima’s involvement with the product might want to start reconsidering.
For a time Hideo Kojima’s name was still attached to the Silent Hills official site, but today Konami has removed all traces of the developer’s presence. Where there was once a Kojima Productions logo, there is now just a blank space. Cue Taylor Swift.
The good news, though, is that the Silent Hills site still exists, so it may not be officially cancelled. Konami has been asked for comment, but right now they presumably don’t have anything to announce. Could be that they are trying to regroup, or they are just quietly letting everyone forget Silent Hills ever existed in the first place.
If that is the case, we can’t help but feel bad for film director Guillermo Del Toro, who was partnered with Kojima on Silent Hills. Del Toro has been very vocal about his love of the video game industry, but so far all of his attempts at development haven’t made it past that initial announcement. However, that bad luck has not been no fault of Del Toro’s, but rather just a byproduct of the industry’s fluid nature. inSANE, for example, was one of the many casualties of the THQ’s bankruptcy.
Now, it is Kojima’s presumably strained relationship with Konami that has undone Silent Hills. That is, unless the sequel is continuing without the prolific developer, which given the franchise’s struggles as of late might not be the best idea. Truly it was Kojima’s involvement that had most gamers curious.
Do you think Silent Hills is cancelled? Are you even interested in the game now that Hideo Kojima is no longer involved?
Source: Silent Hills (via Gamespot)