One of Konami’s largest IPs is the Metal Gear series, and although it has seen a return in the form of remastered collections and even a remake, a mainline entry is what fans really want. But that can’t happen without the mastermind behind the whole series, Hideo Kojima. After the tumultuous departure of Kojima from Konami, no one thought it would be possible for a new Metal Gear to be worked on by him. But according to a producer at Konami, the tides may have shifted, and the impossible could happen if Kojima is on board.
Noiaki Okamura, the Metal Gear producer, said during a livestream that working on a new game in the series with Kojima and the original team would be “the dream.” Whether it happens or not, depends on a lot of other people.
After the release of the last game in the series, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Kojima left Konami in 2015, we didn’t get to know much about why the falling out took place, but we do know it was sudden, and didn’t look like it was on good terms. Since then, Kojima has talked about Metal Gear fairly regularly, but since Konami owns the property, he can’t ever work on the franchise again unless there is some sort of partnership.
It appears that the tension between the two has fizzled out as the years have worn on. Okamura also confirmed that much of the team that worked on the original Metal Gear Solid 3 is now working on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater as well. He also said that they are confident that they will do a good job in bringing the old PS2 classic to the modern era.
Hideo Kojima and others who worked on the original are credited in the remake and in the remasters as well. Although this is far from a confirmation of Kojima coming back to the fan-favorite series, it does give some hope to fans that both parties might be open to the idea.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater comes out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, some time in 2024.
