Company:Kojima Productions

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Short description: Japanese video game developer
Kojima Productions Co., Ltd.
Native name
株式会社コジマプロダクション
Kabushiki gaisha Kojima Purodakushon
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedDecember 16, 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12-16)
FounderHideo Kojima
Headquarters
Shinagawa, Tokyo
,
Japan
Key people
  • Hideo Kojima (director)
  • Shinji Hirano (president)
  • Yoji Shinkawa (art director)
Number of employees
~80[1] (2019)
DivisionsKojima Productions Amsterdam[2]
Websitekojimaproductions.jp

Kojima Productions Co., Ltd.[lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese video game development studio founded in 2015 by Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear series.[3] It is the spiritual successor to a production team inside Konami also known as Kojima Productions originally founded in 2005. The independent Kojima Productions has a slightly altered Japanese name[lower-alpha 2] and is based in Shinagawa, Tokyo.[4][5] The studio uses the Decima game engine by Guerrilla Games for its games.

History

Background

The original Kojima Productions was formed as a division within Konami in April 2005, after the merger of several subsidiaries including Kojima's group at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan.[6] Kojima said the merger relieved him of business management and administrative burdens he had as KCEJ's vice president, and that as head of Kojima Productions he could focus on creating games.[6] According to Kojima, while he now held a position on the Konami board, he still had to persuade staff to invest in his game ideas.[7]

The team had around 100 employees, but grew to over 200 for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.[8][9] The name of the team followed Konami's naming style used between 2004 and 2015. Other production teams include Pawapuro Production (ja), BEMANI Production (ja), Virtual Kiss Production (ja) and Loveplus Production (ja) alongside others. Kojima Productions developed the Fox Engine.

On March 16, 2015, Konami announced that it had restructured the game development operations to change the production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, "in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business". The Kojima Productions branding was quietly removed from company websites and buildings. A few days later, an anonymous Konami employee stated that Kojima and the studio's senior staff had planned to leave Konami in December 2015 following the conclusion of their contracts and the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.[10] Konami denied that Kojima was leaving the company and stated that he would still be involved with the company and the Metal Gear franchise.[11][12] Kojima affirmed that he was still "100% involved" in The Phantom Pain and was determined to make it the greatest game he could.[13] In December 2015, the production team was nominated for Developer of the Year at The Game Awards 2015, but lost to CD Projekt Red.[14] Kojima was reportedly blocked from attending the event by Konami's lawyers, requiring Big Boss's actor Kiefer Sutherland to accept the awards for The Phantom Pain on his behalf.[15]

Independent studio

On December 16, 2015, in a joint announcement with Sony Computer Entertainment, Kojima announced that he would start an independent studio—also named Kojima Productions—alongside Yoji Shinkawa and Kenichiro Imaizumi.[16][17][18] The studio announced that it would develop a new franchise for PlayStation 4.[19] Kojima stated that he "will be taking on a new challenge by establishing my own independent studio, and I am thrilled to be able to embark on this journey with PlayStation, who I have continued to work with all these past years".[20] At E3 2016, Kojima unveiled a trailer to Death Stranding during Sony's pre-E3 conference.[21][22] It was released by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2019, and a PC version was released by 505 Games on Windows in July 2020. In November 2019, the studio announced their plans to make films.[23]

Kenichiro Imaizumi, Yumi Kikuchi and Hideo Kojima in 2007

Kojima modeled the philosophy of Media Molecule when reforming the studio.[24][25] After visiting the company in 2016, he simultaneously modeled his own, wanting "a small, intimate type of studio".[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][excessive citations] Kojima praised their high number of female employees and relaxed atmosphere, which he compared to that of a family.[25][28][31][32] He set a limit of one hundred employees for the studio, similar to Media Molecule.[24][25][26][30][33] Imaizumi left the company in 2019.[34] In April 2020, the office was temporarily closed after an employee contracted COVID-19.[35]

In October 2020, it was confirmed the company is working on the next game in development.[36] On June 12, 2022, during Microsoft's digital presentation, Kojima announced that it had partnered with Xbox Game Studios to develop a new game featuring a "never before-seen concept" and leveraging Microsoft's "cutting-edge cloud technology".[37] At The Game Awards 2023, Kojima revealed the new game, OD. It was also revealed that Jordan Peele is working with Kojima on the game.[38]

In November 2021, it was announced that it would open a new business division for films and television series in Los Angeles .[39] In December 2022, it was announced that Kojima Productions will produce a film based on Death Stranding with Hammerstone Studios.[40]

Games

Kojima Productions

Year Title Platform(s) Notes
2019 Death Stranding PlayStation 4, Windows, PlayStation 5, macOS First game to not be affiliated with Konami; published on PS4 in 2019 by Sony Interactive Entertainment and on PC in 2020 by 505 Games. A Director's Cut version was released in 2021 for PS5 and in 2022 for PC.
2025 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PlayStation 5 [41][42]
TBA OD TBA Published by Xbox Game Studios [43]
PHYSINT (working title) Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment [44]

Filmography

Year Title Notes
2024 Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds Documentary; co-production with PlayStation Studios and Filmworks; distributed by Disney+ [45]
TBA Untitled Death Stranding film Co-production with Hammerstone Studios and A24 [46]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: 株式会社コジマプロダクション Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Kojima Purodakushon
  2. ↑ Although both names translate to Kojima Productions in English, the Konami production team was named 小島プロダクション (with Kojima written in kanji) while the independent company is named コジマプロダクション (with Kojima written in katakana).

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Peter (17 September 2019). "Hideo Kojima Says It's His Destiny To Take Risks And Create New Games". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hideo-kojima-says-its-his-destiny-to-take-risks-an/1100-6469867/. 
  2. ↑ "Death Stranding Uses Guerrilla's Decima Engine; Kojima Setting Up Satellite Studio In Amsterdam". 5 December 2016. http://wccftech.com/death-stranding-decima-engine-guerrilla/. 
  3. ↑ Karlin, David (September 28, 2005). "Hideo Kojima Blogs About Life, Metal Gear". http://www.1up.com/news/kojima-music-memory-metal-gear. 
  4. ↑ Sliva, Marty (January 25, 2017). "Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding, and Building the Studio". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/26/hideo-kojima-death-stranding-and-building-the-studio. 
  5. ↑ Hansen, Steven (December 16, 2015). "Metal Gear creator starts Kojima Productions to work on PS4 exclusive". https://www.destructoid.com/metal-gear-creator-starts-kojima-productions-to-work-on-ps4-exclusive-327182.phtml. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hideo Kojima Exclusive Q&A". May 20, 2005. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hideo-kojima-exclusive-qanda/1100-6126180/. 
  7. ↑ Doree, Adam (2008-08-24). "Hideo Kojima: The Kikizo Interview 2008". Kikizo. http://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/hideo-kojima-interview-2008-p1.asp. 
  8. ↑ Blevins, Tal (August 19, 2005). "GC 2005: Hideo Kojima Interview". https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/19/gc-2005-hideo-kojima-interview. 
  9. ↑ Nutt, Christian (October 15, 2007). "Infiltrating Kojima Productions: Ryan Payton Talks Metal Gear Solid 4". p. 5. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1954/infiltrating_kojima_productions_.php?page=5. 
  10. ↑ Brown, Peter; Crossley, Rob (March 20, 2015). "Kojima Expected to Leave Konami After MGS5, Inside Source Confirms". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-expected-to-leave-konami-after-mgs5-inside-/1100-6426024/. 
  11. ↑ Megan, Farokhmanesh (March 19, 2015). "Konami removes Kojima name from Metal Gear games, Kojima rumored to leave (update)". https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/19/8257283/metal-gear-solid-konami-branding. 
  12. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (March 20, 2015). "Konami announces plan for brand new Metal Gear series". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-03-20-konami-announces-plan-for-brand-new-metal-gear-solid-series. 
  13. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (March 20, 2015). "Hideo Kojima says he's still '100 percent involved' in completing Metal Gear Solid 5". https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/20/8266037/hideo-kojima-statement-metal-gear-solid-5. 
  14. ↑ "Nominees | The Game Awards 2015". Ola Balola. November 12, 2015. http://thegameawards.com/nominees/. 
  15. ↑ Tach, Dave (December 3, 2015). "Konami prevented Kojima from attending The Game Awards, host says". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/3/9847206/konami-prevented-kojima-attending-game-awards-2015. 
  16. ↑ Dyer, Mitch (December 16, 2015). "Hideo Kojima Talks New Studio, 'Edgy' PlayStation Game, and the Future". https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/12/16/hideo-kojima-talks-new-studio-edgy-playstation-game-and-the-future. 
  17. ↑ Tucker, Jake (December 16, 2016). "Shinji Hirano named as new President of Kojima Productions". MCV/Develop. https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/shinji-hirano-named-as-new-president-of-kojima-productions/227873/. 
  18. ↑ Dennison, Kara (January 16, 2017). "Former Konami Staffers Follow Hideo Kojima to His New Company". Otter Media. http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/01/16-1/former-konami-staffers-follow-hideo-kojima-to-his-new-company. 
  19. ↑ "Sony Computer Entertainment Enters Into An Agreement with Kojima Productions" (Press release). Sony Computer Entertainment. December 16, 2015. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  20. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (December 16, 2015). "Hideo Kojima confirms departure from Konami, forms new studio and partnership with Sony". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/16/10270432/hideo-kojima-new-studio-playstation. 
  21. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (June 15, 2016). "Death Stranding's teaser probably won't be playable, Hideo Kojima says". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/15/11948540/death-stranding-teaser-playable-hideo-kojima. 
  22. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (June 14, 2016). "Kojima Productions Announce Death Stranding". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/14/death-stranding-kojima-productions-first-game/. 
  23. ↑ Purslow, Matt (November 4, 2019). "Kojima Productions Plans to Make Films in the Future". https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/04/kojima-productions-plans-to-make-films-in-the-future. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Sliva, Marty (26 January 2017). "Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding, and Building the Studio". Ziff Davis. https://uk.ign.com/articles/2017/01/26/hideo-kojima-death-stranding-and-building-the-studio. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Barker, Sammy (24 May 2016). "Hideo Kojima Modelling New Studio on Media Molecule". Gamer Network. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/05/hideo_kojima_modelling_new_studio_on_media_molecule. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Holmes, Mike (23 May 2016). "Kojima on why he's modelling his studio on Media Molecule". Gamez Publishing A/S. https://www.gamereactor.eu/kojima-on-why-hes-modelling-his-studio-on-media-molecule/. 
  27. ↑ "Hideo Kojima Tries PlayStation VR, Visits LittleBigPlanet Dev Media Molecule". CBS Interactive. 25 January 2016. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hideo-kojima-tries-playstation-vr-visits-littlebig/1100-6434113/. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Goldfarb, Andrew (19 February 2016). "DICE 2016: Why Kojima Hopes to Keep His New Studio Small". Ziff Davis. https://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/02/19/dice-2016-why-kojima-hopes-to-keep-his-new-studio-small. 
  29. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (26 January 2017). "Hideo Kojima shows off his fancy new studio". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-01-26-hideo-kojima-shows-off-his-fancy-new-studio. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Kojima's new studio is modeled on Media Molecule and won't go over 100 employees". Network N. 24 May 2016. https://www.pcgamesn.com/kojima-productions-media-molecule. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Kojima's new studio inspired by Media Molecule". MCV/Develop (Biz Media). 24 May 2016. https://www.mcvuk.com/kojimas-new-studio-inspired-by-media-molecule/. Retrieved 16 January 2020. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Prell, Sam (23 May 2016). "Hideo Kojima is modeling his new studio after LittleBigPlanet dev Media Molecule". Future Publishing. https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/hideo-kojima-is-modeling-his-new-studio-after-littlebigplanet-dev-media-molecule/. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Hideo Kojima's World Tour: Building Games & Studios". Gamez Publishing A/S. 24 May 2016. https://www.gamereactor.eu/hideo-kojimas-world-tour-building-games-studios/. 
  34. ↑ Gera, Emily (May 17, 2020). "Metal Gear Solid veteran Ken-Ichiro Imaizumi joins Tencent a year after leaving Kojima Productions". https://www.vg247.com/2020/05/17/ken-ichiro-imaizumi-kojima-productions-tencent/. 
  35. ↑ Carreau, Glenn (March 30, 2020). "Kojima Productions Employee Tests Positive for Coronavirus". https://gamerant.com/kojima-productions-employee-tests-positive-coronavirus/. 
  36. ↑ Gurwin, Gabe (October 22, 2020). "Kojima Productions Has Started Its Next Game, And It's Hiring". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-productions-has-started-its-next-game-and-its-hiring/1100-6483626/. 
  37. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (2022-06-12). "Hideo Kojima is working on a new Xbox game" (in en-US). https://www.polygon.com/23164776/hideo-kojima-productions-xbox-game. 
  38. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (December 8, 2023). "Hideo Kojima Announces New Xbox Game OD In Collaboration With Jordan Peele". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hideo-kojima-announces-new-xbox-game-overdose-in-collaboration-with-jordan-peele/1100-6519800/. 
  39. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (November 22, 2021). "Kojima Productions Opens A Film And TV Business". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-productions-opens-a-film-and-tv-business/1100-6498243/. 
  40. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2022-12-15). "'Death Stranding' Film Based On Hit Video Game In Works From 'Barbarian' EP Alex Lebovici's Hammerstone Studios, Kojima Productions" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2022/12/death-stranding-film-from-barbarian-producer-alex-lebovici-in-works-1235200209/. 
  41. ↑ Makuch, Eddie; Bonthuys, Darryn (2022-12-08). "Death Stranding 2 Officially Announced" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/death-stranding-2-officially-announced/1100-6509825/. 
  42. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (2024-01-31). "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach isn't coming until 2025" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach-isnt-coming-until-2025/. 
  43. ↑ "Microsoft and Kojima Productions announce partnership for new title" (in en-US). 2022-06-12. https://www.gematsu.com/2022/06/microsoft-and-kojima-productions-announce-partnership-for-new-title. 
  44. ↑ Shepard, Kennth (January 31, 2024). "Kojima's New Game Physint Is A Return To The Espionage Genre". https://kotaku.com/physint-hideo-kojima-new-game-state-play-1851214597. 
  45. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (December 12, 2023). "Disney+ will distribute Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds documentary on Death Stranding". https://venturebeat.com/games/disney-will-distribute-hideo-kojima-connecting-worlds-documentary-on-death-stranding/. 
  46. ↑ Leston, Ryan (December 14, 2023). "Death Stranding Movie Coming From A24, Kojima Productions". https://www.ign.com/articles/death-stranding-movie-coming-from-a24-kojima-productions. 

External links



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