Since Hideo Kojima's high-profile split with Metal Gear publisher Konami, the industry vet has been developing games with his own studio: Kojima Productions. Those games include an upcoming Xbox project, along with Death Stranding of course. Regardless of the partnerships forged by KJP so far, the team clearly wants to stay independent well into the future.
Speaking on a recent Brain Structure podcast episode with The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley, Kojima spoke about acquisition offers and his desire to stay independent (thanks, GameRadar):
"Every day, I am approached by offers from all over the world to buy our studio. Some of those offers are ridiculously high prices, but it's not that I want money, [...] I want to make what I want to make. That's why I created this studio. So as long as I'm alive, I don't think I will ever accept those offers."
Of course, we've seen vague links between Xbox and pretty much every game company on the planet regarding acquisitions, especially since Microsoft made moves for both Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Kojima didn't mention Xbox by name, but there's every chance MS could have been one of the potential suitors for his team.
For now, Kojima Productions remains independent and we're incredibly intrigued by what the team will end up creating as part of its partnership with Xbox.
Would you like Xbox to scoop up KJP? Or would you prefer them to stay independent? Leave your thoughts down in the comments!
[source gamesradar.com]
Comments 15
I'd wager Microsoft were one of those, along with Tencent. And possibly sony after death stranding.
@UltimateOtaku91 it’s only good business sense to ask. Especially for MS since these are the studios they lack and even makes sense for Sony since they have worked so closely with him in the past. Glad to see he is keeping his studio open to all platforms and whatever he wants to make.
I don't see why Sony couldn't buy the studio but allow Kojima to still be independent? That's what Sony did with Bungie.
@Green-Bandit yeah means he gets full creative freedom over his games, plus why sell to one of Microsoft/Sony when he can make money off both by making exclusives for both consoles.
@UltimateOtaku91 i agree. Nice to see him supporting both brands going forward and i would love to know more about the Xbox Project. Thought the PS fans handled that announcement poorly. As if he shouldn’t make a game for Xbox. That is the stuff that makes the industry look bad.
MS aren't going for any studio until the Acti/Blizz deal goes through.
What price independence eh? Fortunately, he's made his riches and so its easier for him not to compromise.
His time time at Konami still haunting him I see.
But would "Kojima Productions: A Raytheon Company" hurt, or help the appeal of the products? It might make the conspiracy theories he makes that much deeper.
@Snake_V5 There's no such thing as "buying them but leaving them independent." They can grant them a very good degree of independence but ultimately if they are owned they aren't independent, they are under the thumb of their owner on a leash, even if the leash is invisible until they tug too hard on it.
Amazon's famous for that sort of thing. They buy companies, they might even leave them alone for 15 years, but one day they're going over line expenses and decide that one's not performing. New upper middle manager comes in and the old handshake agreements are out the window for new corporate goals.
Makes sense, the guy is probably loaded already and doesn't need more money. I'm sure he's doing this out of passion.
@Snake_V5 I doubt he wants to be tied down to Sony, especially today's Sony. They have changed a lot since he started working with them.
Rumors were flying pretty strong when he left Konami over excessive demands from Konami regarding Sony wanting a lot of exclusive content. No idea if they ever came true but I like his games and his effort to do what he loves.
@JayJ He doesn't want to be tied down by Microsoft either. It goes both ways.
@Rafie Yeah well I doubt they were making an offer right now.
@JayJ I hear ya considering the deal that's about to go through with Acti/Blizz. Doesn't mean Microsoft didn't try though.
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