Despite the recent falling out between game designer Hideo Kojima and his development company Kojima Productions and game publisher Konami, the launching of the upcoming open world action adventure stealth video game “Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain” would not be delayed at all.
The game is expected to hit the current and next gen gaming consoles on September 1 and it will roll out to the Windows PC on September 15, notes Venture Capital Post.
While both Kojima Productions and Konami are keeping mum about the real reason why they decided to part ways, it is likely that both companies are just waiting for their official separation come December this year before each starts talking about the falling out.
As a result, various speculations have started to come out as to the reason why the two Japanese companies have finally decided to end their once productive partnership and business relationship.
Rumored reasons
The falling out may have been a result of several rumored reasons including criticisms over “Quiet’s” sexiness, David Hayter not lending his voice to Snake, Konami removing Kojima’s marks on the majority of the series and his other works, site re-direction from Kojima’s site to Konmai’s, neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero’s claim of ‘face robbery,’ the rift has actually become a circus and many internet sites have been feasting on it for quite some time now.
Canavero even filed a police report last month claiming likeness was used without his permission for a character that appeared on the game’s trailer. The doctor appears serious in bringing the matter to court and possibly persecute those behind the game.
But neither Kojima nor Konami commented on Canavero’s move but knowing the two companies and their track records in gaming, it is highly unlikely that they are capable of doing such a thing.
Kojima’s site has been redirecting browsers to Konami’s website and even the Kojima Production’s Facebook page has already been deactivated.
Business as usual
Despite the legal issues and entanglements, Konami expects to make a killing for “Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain” since the collector’s edition got sold out in the UK ahead of its schedule.
Priced at £99.99, the special edition set for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, includes the full game in a collectible steelbook package, a physical map, an in-game DLC, a behind-the-scenes documentary and a half-scale replica of Snake’s bionic arm.