So it looks like all of those unconfirmed rumors floating around the internet were true; Kojima Productions LA is due to close with immediate effect, according to Konami.
In a statement received by Polygon from a company representative, Konami said:
Konami has made the decision to close its Los Angeles Studio, effective immediately, due to the product development resources being restructured into a more centralized unit. This facility contributed to the recent Metal Gear Solid games. Konami will continue its operations to support all Metal Gear Solid titles, including the recently launched Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online. Metal Gear Online is still scheduled to release for PC Steam in January 2016.
The announcement will be of little surprise to many, as the studio – which formed in 2013 – was re-branded as Konami Studios Los Angeles earlier this year, due to what many suspect as being a result of the apparent falling-out between Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and Konami.
The studio had previously worked on Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online, with Konami’s Digital Entertainment president, Tomoyuki Tusboi having said the following when the studio originally opened two years ago:
The Los Angeles studio emphasizes Konami and Kojima Productions commitment to expanding our development footprint. The new studio will put Kojima Productions in the heart of the west which will benefit future releases as it will introduce new talent and creativity to the development teams.
So where does this leave Kojima? Well, everyone but Konami themselves seem to think that the esteemed industry icon has since left the company, but at this stage, who knows?