Konami has now elaborated further on the status of Metal Gear, but this is likely not the news that you want to hear.
In a press release, they have confirmed that they will be creating a new game in the Metal Gear series after Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. They are actually going to be working on a completely new series, and are subsequently hiring new staff members to build a new team for the franchise.
This press release fits in with earlier rumors that Kojima and Konami management have had a falling out, leading to Kojima and some other executive staff being relegated to contractual workers, and their corporate communications access being limited, an action companies can take when one of their senior staff members is being shown the door under unamicable circumstances.
All of these also corroborates fan suspicions that Kojima is being disassociated from Konami and the Metal Gear franchise, with his name being taken off Konami and Metal Gear sites, social networks, etc. This last point was punctuated by Kojima Productions’ LA studio itself being renamed to Konami Productions LA.
There is no news as of now how Konami will work with Kojima moving forward, what Kojima’s role will be in the Metal Gear franchise in the future, the status of pending Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro co-produced horror game Silent Hills, and even what Konami even plans to do with Metal Gear at all.
