Konami Could Bring Back Metal Gear Solid, if We Forget Kojima

The year 2015 saw a bitter and very public breakup between Hideo Kojima, the creative mind behind the Metal Gear Solid series, and Konami, the company that had published his games for years. Though the full reasons for the split were never made clear, it damaged the brand in ways that couldn’t be repaired for years.

Now, it seems that the series can make a comeback without its legendary creator.

It’s Been a Decade Since Kojima Left Konami

Hideo Kojima and Konami seem to have been at odds since Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was released. The company had published Kojima’s games for years, and the split seemed to stem from corporate overreach and betrayal. This wasn’t a slow, quiet separation; it happened suddenly with shocking announcements and actions that left a mark on Konami and made Kojima look like a hero.

The first signs of trouble came in March 2015 in a report from Eurogamer. Without warning, Konami removed Kojima’s name and the Kojima Productions logo from all their websites and promotional materials for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It was a total wipe, making it look like Kojima had never been involved. Naturally, this sparked confusion and wild rumors.

Around the same time, Konami revealed it was restructuring the company, moving away from individual studio teams to a more top-down approach. The fact that it didn’t mention Kojima, who was a vice president before this all happened, made it seem like a deliberat move to push him out.

Soon, more troubling details came to light. According to reports from insiders, Kojima and his key team members were stripped of their official positions and treated like outside contractors (per GameSpot) with limited access to company resources. These moves didn’t just hurt Kojima; they also sent a clear message to fans about how Konami valued (or didn’t value) its most famous creator.

The way Konami erased Kojima from the franchise’s public image dealt a major blow to fan trust. The fanbase did not take this lightly. The Metal Gear fanbase felt betrayed by the company’s actions and was furious at how Kojima had been treated. This anger never fully went away, especially since Konami never gave a clear explanation for the split.

Konami’s Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, is a smart and well-thought-out plan to win back the trust of Metal Gear fans. The way the game is being developed, marketed, and released is all part of a bigger strategy to rebuild a connection with players and show that Konami still cares about the Metal Gear series.

Picking Snake Eater for this big remake wasn’t a random choice. The game is an important origin story for Big Boss (known as Naked Snake at the time) and sets up major plot points for the whole series. It’s a beloved game, and this decision lets Konami appeal to longtime fans while also bringing in new players.

Remaking the game may not qualify as reviving lost media, but it gives newcomers an easy way to get into the series while also giving older fans a fresh way to replay a classic.

The development of Metal Gear Solid Delta is a team effort between Konami’s own developers and Virtuos, a studio known for working on other big remakes and past Metal Gear projects. Using Unreal Engine 5 is a major technical upgrade, meaning the game should look great and play smoothly while staying true to the original. Konami’s focus on keeping the original gameplay and story while improving the graphics and controls is a clear effort to please longtime fans who want an experience that feels real.

The marketing for Metal Gear Solid Delta has been handled so carefully, showing just enough gameplay and improved graphics to build excitement without giving too much away. It’s as if Konami knows that any bad move will rekindle the backlash that occurred the last time the company made a bad PR move. If the game can be released without controversy, it could heal some old wounds instead.

It is my personal opinion that Konami was in the wrong and should never have gotten rid of Kojima. Unfortunately, the Metal Gear Solid series has a great history, but it is unlikely to return with Kojima attached. There may be too much bad blood there. However, it feels like a waste of a franchise to let it die.

There is still a lot of story potential left to explore without relying on its original creator. The existing world, strong characters, and the lasting popularity of stealth-action gameplay provide a good base for exciting new games. If future sequels take a smart approach, focusing on fresh gameplay ideas and engaging stories, the series could become popular again with both longtime fans and new players.

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The biggest strength of the Metal Gear universe is its complex, layered storytelling. The main themes of war, politics, and the moral questions around advanced technology still feel relevant, giving plenty of room for new stories. While Big Boss is an important character, his story is mostly finished, opening opportunities for new heroes and villains.

Metal Gear Solid has always been a pioneer, leading the stealth genre and constantly trying new things. Future games could keep this tradition alive using the latest technology and mechanics.

Smarter AI, procedurally generated levels, and creative uses of virtual reality could make the gameplay even deeper while keeping the series’ focus on careful planning and skill. It is even one of the games that let you be a pacifist and avoid killing anyone.

I don’t doubt that the first idea we may see will be low-tier creatively, like “Big Boss had another child that we didn’t know about.” However, the series should try to escape its roots and leave the Snake story alone. That way, Kojima’s legacy can remain, but we can also see the series continue.

Remakes Are Only the Start

The Metal Gear series is a major player in the stealth-action genre but is now at a turning point. While the recent news of a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake shows that there is still interest in the franchise, it feels like the remakes will be the start of the series’ the future. However, do not be fooled. This is Konami’s first step in bringing back a series that was once a flagship. Sequels are bound to come eventually.

I would bet that remakes are coming for every Metal Gear Solid, except MGS4 because it still looks modern. You could play it again on PS5, and it wouldn’t be so bad. When Konami finishes bringing everyone back up to speed, I don’t doubt Metal Gear Solid VI will get announced. That’s when we’ll see where the series is going without Kojima.

While I hope Kojima’s studio will be offered a chance to continue the series, I highly doubt it. In the last 10 years, Kojima has moved on and become a success in his own right, while Konami stayed away from continuing a series that made a lot of money.

The best way to stay successful is to find a balance between honoring the series’ history and taking bold steps forward. This means being open to trying new things, taking risks, and embracing change, none of which can happen if Konami does not continue Metal Gear Solid with Kojima.