Some may be disappointed that Kojima 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 as Castlevania, Contra, and Pro Evolution Soccer. He would find acclaim through Metal Gear in 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 named Metal Gear. The game was followed by Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and, in 1998, the series would jump to 3D with Metal Gear Solid.

Through the Metal Gear series, 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 gaming is 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 named Snatcher. 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 of Metal 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 of Metal Gear Solid sequels, 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 Productions have a notably close relationship.

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Death Stranding was 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 Stranding remains one of the most refreshingly creative games in recent times. Death Stranding’s themes have 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 by Kojima 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 through movie references in the Metal Gear series, and Death 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. After Death 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 after Microsoft’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 independent Kojima Productions is perhaps the best way for fans to get the unadulterated Kojima experience.

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