The Konami exodus

Creators find authoritarian Japanese gaming giant makes life hard for 'ex-Kons'

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There seems to be no love lost between "Metal Gear" series creator Hideo Kojima and Konami, his former employer.

YUJI NITTA and SHOTARO TANI, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- "You are unfairly discrediting the company." Those words were contained in a letter that Japanese gaming giant Konami sent last fall to Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator of the company's hit "Metal Gear" series.

Konami was referring to an incident that occurred on Sept. 18, 2016, when Kojima appeared at a talk event hosted by Sony Interactive Entertainment at the Tokyo Game Show expo. Kojima, who had already left Konami in December 2015 to set up his own company, Kojima Productions, was asked by a fan if he was involved in the new "Metal Gear" game that Konami announced was in production. "That has nothing to do with me," he said with a wry smile.

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