Konami shuts down Hideo Kojima's California based development studio.
The video game developing company has taken another step in its messy break-up with Kojima with the closure of Kojima Productions in Los Angeles.
Konami confirmed the news in a statement emailed to Polygon.
"Konami has made the decision to close its Los Angeles Studio, effective immediately, due to the product development resources being restructured into a more centralized unit," the statment reads. "This facility contributed to the recent Metal Gear Solid games. Konami will continue its operations to support all Metal Gear Solid titles, including the recently launched Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online. Metal Gear Online is still scheduled to release for PC Steam in January 2016."
Due to the recent developments, Kojima Productions staff have apparently been laid off, according to 3D Realms vetaran George Broussard.
BREAKING: Rumor tells me that Konami has shut down the Kojima Productions LA studio, taking with it approx 35 jobs, just before Xmas.
— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) November 3, 2015
Hideo Kojima himself reportedly quit the company last month, though the company claims that he is just "on vacation."
Kojima Productions L.A. officially opened its doors in 2013 after a recuitment campaign. The studio worked on both Metal Gear Solid 5 and Metal Gear Online.
"The Los Angeles studio emphasizes Konami and Kojima Productions commitment to expanding our development footprint," Konami Digital Entertainment president Tomoyuki Tsuboi said in a statement upon the opening of the studio. "The new studio will put Kojima Productions in the heart of the west which will benefit future releases as it will introduce new talent and creativity to the development teams."
Kojima Productions was renamed Konami Los Angeles Studio earlier this year when things between the Japanese video game creator and the company turned south. Kojima's name was also stripped from the Metal Gear Solid websites and the box art.
