Recently, Sony updated the PlayStation Studios banner to include Sam Bridges fromDeath Stranding, leading many to speculate thatKojima Productionsmay be the next studio to be part of the PlayStation family. This seemed to be a reasonable guess, as the companies have worked closely together, withDeath Strandingreleasing on PlayStation consoles before making its way onto PC. However, Hideo Kojima went on Twitter to dispel rumors and confirm that “Kojima Productionshas been and will continue to be an independent studio.”
Some may be disappointed thatKojima Productions won’t get acquired by Sony, but it may be better for Kojima and his studio if it remains independent. The past has shown that Kojima is someone who works best when given full creative freedom. Furthermore, with Kojima looking to expand beyond gaming, being a PlayStation Studio may not be the company’s best position.
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Kojima Productions' History
Kojima’s career in gaming began with Konami in 1986, the studio behind big franchises such asCastlevania,Contra, andPro Evolution Soccer. He would find acclaim throughMetal Gearin 1987, often credited as the beginning of the stealth genre. The game focused on an operative named Solid Snake who, working for FOXHOUND, infiltrates enemy camps to destroy a dangerous weapon namedMetal Gear. The game was followed byMetal Gear 2: Solid Snakeand, in 1998, the series would jump to 3D withMetal Gear Solid.
Through theMetal Gearseries, Kojima proved himself capable of crafting games with intricate gameplay requiring strategic thinking. Furthermore, he also demonstrated his cinematic imagination through the inclusion of high-quality cutscenes.Metal Gear’s impact on gamingis hard to overstate, but a strain would develop between Konami and Kojima over time.
Signs of this friction were apparent early on when, in 1988, Kojima worked on a game namedSnatcher. Although he intended for it to be six chapters long, Konami cut it down to two. Kojima and Konami would butt heads more leading to the development ofMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, resulting in Kojima leaving Konami. Consequently, Kojima Productions Los Angeles was renamed Konami Los Angeles Studio. Kojima’s departure drastically reduced the chances ofMetal Gear Solidsequels, but fortunately it was not the end of the line for Kojima.
Kojima Shines as an Independent Creator
Kojima’s departure from Konami was devastating to him, as he said in an interview with Time magazine there was a period where he felt lonely and estranged. However, Kojima eventually rebuilt Kojima Productions as a fully independent studio. Though the studio is not owned by Sony, several first-party PlayStation studios have been friendly with Kojima;Guerrilla Games and Kojima Productionshave a notably close relationship.
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Death Strandingwas the studio’s first release in 2019, and although it was backed by Sony, it demonstrated the kind of genre-defying creativity Kojima is capable of when he is not on a leash. It was a polarizing game that some critics have described as a walking simulator, but for those who clicked with it,Death Strandingremains one of the most refreshingly creative games in recent times.Death Stranding’s themeshave only found more relevance in a post-COVID world.
Being acquired by Sony might give Kojima Productions deeper pockets and more security, but it may not be the best move to guarantee creative freedom, which is something Kojima values. By remaining independent, Kojima can ensure he is never constrained by the demands of larger corporations like with Konami, and he can keep making eccentric titles.
Kojima Productions Plans on Expanding Beyond Gaming
Kojima’s passion for gaming is undeniable, and it is made more evident byKojima Production’s mascot: a spacesuit-clad man named Ludens, the Latin word for playing. However, Kojima also has a deep love for movies. Growing up, his family had a tradition of watching movies together, including ones made in the West. After being exposed to the world of movies so much, young Kojima decided he wanted to make movies, so he took up filmmaking as a hobby.
Kojima’s first movies were shot using his friend’s 8mm camcorder, and they were mostly short films about zombies. Although Kojima would find his dream career in gaming, his love for movies can be seen with the cinematic cutscenes in his games. His love for Hollywood is also demonstrated throughmovie references in theMetal Gearseries, andDeath Stranding’s use of big Hollywood names including Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen.
Now that Kojima has an independent studio, he may finally live out his dreams of being a filmmaker. In 2021, Kojima Productions expanded to include a division for film, television, and music. AfterDeath Stranding, which had a cutscene lasting over half an hour, perhaps Kojima would be creatively satisfied if he focused his efforts on a feature-length film, live-action or animated. Should Kojima Productions be acquired by Sony, it could result in the studio’s horizons being limited to gaming alone. By remaining independent, Kojima Productions can expand whenever needed to accommodate Kojima’s varied interests.
Currently it seems like there is an acquisition frenzy, and afterMicrosoft’s acquisition of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, it appears as though nothing is off-limits. Kojima Productions seems like it would be a good fit for Sony, as Kojima has a long working history with PlayStation. However, an independentKojima Productionsis perhaps the best way for fans to get the unadulterated Kojima experience.
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