The creator of the Metal Gear Solid series was a notable absence at the ceremony.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain picked up two awards at the Game Awards ceremony and those gathered at the event were noticeably disappointed at Kojima’s absence.
Host Geoff Keighley explained the absence, saying “Mr Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight, but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight’s awards ceremony to accept any awards. He’s still under an employment contract and it’s disappointing.”
The situation between Kojima and Konami Games has been complicated for several months, starting with the cancellation of Silent Hills – which Kojima was working on with director Guillermo Del Toro and Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus – and, more recently, the removal of Kojima’s name from The Phantom Pain’s box art.
In recent weeks, conflicting information about Kojima’s status with Konami has been circulating – the company state that Kojima is simply taking an extended holiday but other reports have stated that he actually left Konami’s employ back in October following The Phantom Pain‘s release.
Words by Megan Roxburgh