Yesterday, reports began to surface that Kojima Productions Los Angeles, which helped develop Metal Gear Online for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, had closed down:
Really sad news about the loss of Konami’s Los Angeles studio. Happy thoughts to all those affected. End of an era for sure, stay strong.
— Venice Beach Gandalf (@PortableKingpin) November 2, 2015
BREAKING: Rumor tells me that Konami has shut down the Kojima Productions LA studio, taking with it approx 35 jobs, just before Xmas.
— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) November 3, 2015
Speaking with sources close to the matter, Eurogamer has confirmed the closure, which sees over 20 jobs being lost. They also say numerous staff members departed in the last days, with the studio’s closure announced to staff yesterday.
Additionally, work on Metal Gear Online appears to have shifted to Japan shortly before The Phantom Pain’s launch on September 1, with Kojima Productions LA providing support.
When Metal Gear Online launched on October 6, things weren’t perfect out of the gate, prompting Konami to give compensation to all players. An upcoming update will hopefully fix a number of the issues.
We’ll let you know if Konami comments on the closure, which comes just a couple weeks after Hideo Kojima’s reported departure from Konami.
[Source: Eurogamer]
