Konami Ceases Development On Console Games

[Henry Spencer]

Konami has ceased all triple-A console game production on everything but Pro Evolution Soccer and there are currently no plans for a big new Metal Gear game, while worldwide technology directr Julien Merceron has left the company. That's according to a pair of reports on French site Gameblog. Eurogamer understands both reports to be true.

Gameblog wrote yesterday that Merceron was apparently unhappy with Konami's transition away from the console market towards mobile games.

Beyond Metal Gear Online - the separate online component to Metal Gear Solid 5 that is currently being finished - and Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, Konami has a blank triple-A slate. It does however have the licence to the football tournament Euro 2016, so we'd expect it to make use of that.

Problems at Konami were highlighted earlier in the year when Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima left the company and his Kojima Productions studio was dissolved. He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses who refused to bankroll his long and lavish productions any longer. Metal Gear Solid 5 reportedly cost $80m to make. Any new Metal Gear Solid game Konami produces will presumably be made without Kojima involved.

Further problems at Konami were highlighted when respected financial Japanese newspaper Nikkei ran an article about a deteriorating company culture at Konami's game division. Employees "deemed useless" were apparently given menial and degrading tasks, and communication with outsiders was restricted and lunch breaks monitored.

What comes next for Konami, and for Kojima, we'll have to wait and see.

It's officially over.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015- ... pes-report

[Zoltor]

Like we didn't see this coming, especially when they canceled Silent Hills, and tried to erase PT from existence(nevermind turned the Silent Hill, and Castlevania franchises in gambling machinces), was there any doubt that Konami was leaving the industry completely(and burning every bridge they can on their way out at that).

[myshtuff]

He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses.

Heh.

[fittersau]

He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses.

Heh.

A bit of a shame. These are major gaming brands. Employee engagement is very much a managerial responsibility they seemed to have failed to address in time.

[Bambi]

He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses.

Heh.

A bit of a shame. These are major gaming brands. Employee engagement is very much a managerial responsibility they seemed to have failed to address in time.

Sorry but you seem to have overlooked

He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses.

Heh.

[myshtuff]

He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses.

Heh.

A bit of a shame. These are major gaming brands. Employee engagement is very much a managerial responsibility they seemed to have failed to address in time.

Sorry but you seem to have overlooked

He had reportedly fallen out with Konami's big bosses.

Heh.

Thank you. I'm glad someone got it.

[Zoltor]

I find all of this to be good news personally, I was afraid Konami might linger around longer, instead they purposely ran their titanic into a Ice berg, and jumping ship as fast as they can.

This is really a time to celebrate, ding dong Konami's dead, Konami's dead, Konami's dead, ding dong Konami'ssss deaaad

Good riddance, it was great while it lasted, but you turned into such big douchebags, you make EA look good, so see you, don't let the door hit your asses on the way out.

I still can't believe the Japanese government hasn't stepped in, It's so bad at Konami.

[Crimson Ryan]

I don't really care. Last Konami game I bought was MGS4..

[Shibiryo]

I couldn't care less either but Silent Hill was the shit man.

[OL]

^^Used to be, that's for sure. But anything post-SH4 is basically lame western fan fiction, usually from people who didn't understand the fundamentals of what the series was all about. And with Silent Hills (which was pretty much the series' only hope for redemption) canned, it probably would have reverted back to that anyway. So y'know, still no big loss.

Anyway, weirdly surprised by this. I knew they were headed to failure, but I actually expected them to try to cash in on their franchises a couple more times, try to make a Metal Gear sans-Kojima, maybe tarnish the Silent Hill series a little further, stuff like that.

I still can't believe the Japanese government hasn't stepped in, It's so bad at Konami.

So you're one of those.

[south carmain]

I hope they sell off their IPs but I guess they're going to keep them to make mobile games...

[Mr357]

#FuckKonami

[Hyo Razuki]

@OP:

Your topic subject sounds a bit misleading. The way I understand it, they will just stop making triple A titles, meaning they will still make cheaper, lower budget games.

@Topic

I cant't say, I'll miss them, even though I used to be a huge fan of Silent Hill, but as OL pointed out, the newer Silent Hills are basically Western-made crap. Other than that I don't really care about any of their games.

[AnimeGamer183]

phpBB [video]

[AnonBaiter]

Yes... This is it, a long-awaited downfall shines upon brilliance on every game ever. Japanese fools are everywhere in their yellow, garbage industry they are living in. Full of great creativity, variety and culture, yet the obliteration of Japan is to be expected if their economy fails.

Bad joke intended. I hate Japan(it's ruled by GAIJIN fascist faggots without respect for everyone both inside and outside their country, after all) and anyone who reads this post should not be offended as such.