Rumor: Hideo Kojima Being Courted By Chinese Gaming Company Tencent

Some sources are claiming that Chinese company Tencent is now courting Hideo Kojima to join their company and make new IP for them.

The negotiation process is also already underway, although Kojima has yet to comment on how far they have gone or how interested he is on his end.

Tencent may not be a household name like Rovio or Sony, but in terms of revenue, they are the largest gaming company in the world. They actually have money invested in many of the biggest Western developers, such as Riot Games, Activision Blizzard and Epic Games.

On their end, Tencent’s business does not just cover games, but social media, e-commerce, and other electronic services. Tencent makes their own money in China and Asia, but of course if this deal pushes through, they may soon be publishing games to the West in an official capacity.

As for Metal Gear? Kojima is more likely to want to keep working on the IP, so such a deal pushing through would be dependent on whether Konami would allow him to take the IP with him – or perhaps, there are other options. Rumors did imply that Konami was generally unhappy with revenues versus cost of making the Metal Gear games, but perhaps, like Momotaro Dentetsu, Konami would be content with keeping the rights and licensing the IP over.

Overall, however, this might just be the kind of opportunity Kojima needs, after having to leave the company that made him after a nearly thirty year tenure ended on less than cordial terms.

Would you welcome Kojima teaming up with Tencent? Do you think he needs to bring Metal Gear with him? Or would you rather see him with a more mainstream gaming company? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.