Company:Kojima Productions

From HandWiki
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; 10 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
200[1] (2025)
DivisionsKojima Productions Amsterdam[2]
Websitekojimaproductions.jp

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). 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 1] and is based in Shinagawa, Tokyo.[4][5]

History

Background

The original Kojima Productions was formed as a subsidiary of Konami in April 2005, after the merger of several subsidiaries including Kojima's group at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan.[6] 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). The team had around 100 employees, but grew to over 200 for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.[7][8] Kojima said the merger relieved him of business management and administrative burdens he had as Konami's vice president, and that as head of Kojima Productions he could focus on making games.[6] While having a position on the Konami board, Kojima wanted to persuade the staff and invest the company in his idea.[9] As well as developing Metal Gear titles, Kojima Productions developed the Fox Engine.

In March 2013, the company established Kojima Productions Los Angeles, the secondary studio in Playa Vista, Los Angeles.[10] However, the studio was shut down as part of Konami's plan to restructure the company in 2015.[11]

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 Software:Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.[12] Konami denied that Kojima was leaving the company and stated that he would still be involved with the company and the Metal Gear franchise.[13][14] Kojima affirmed that he was still "100% involved" in The Phantom Pain and was determined to make it the greatest game he could.[15] In December 2015, the production team was nominated for Developer of the Year at The Game Awards 2015, but lost to CD Projekt Red.[16] 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.[17]

Independent studio

Kenichiro Imaizumi, Yumi Kikuchi, and Kojima in 2007

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.[18][19][20] The studio announced that it would develop a new franchise for PlayStation 4.[21] 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".[22] In contrast to most Japanese development studios, which he likened to "armies" due to strict hierarchy and the lack of respect given to employees, Kojima sought to establish "an intimate kind of studio" that "feel[s] like it's family".[23] Kojima visited Media Molecule and cited it as an inspiration.[24] He was impressed by its work culture, particularly its number of female employees and relaxed atmosphere.[23][25][26] He set a limit of one hundred employees for the studio, similar to Media Molecule.[27] In 2016, the studio opened a small division in Amsterdam, near Guerrilla Games, who developed the Decima game engine that Kojima is using.[2]

At E3 2016, Kojima unveiled a trailer to Death Stranding during Sony's pre-E3 conference.[28][29] It was released by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2019, and a PC version was released by 505 Games on Windows in July 2020. Imaizumi left the company in 2019.[30] In April 2020, the office was temporarily closed after an employee contracted COVID-19.[31]

In October 2020, it was confirmed that the company is working on the next game in development.[32] On June 12, 2022, during Microsoft's digital presentation, Kojima announced that it had partnered with Xbox Game Studios to make a game featuring a "never before-seen concept" and leveraging Microsoft's "cutting-edge cloud technology".[33] Kojima and Jordan Peele appeared at The Game Awards 2023, while revealing the game OD.[34]

At The Game Awards 2022, Kojima officially announced a sequel to Death Stranding.[35] A second trailer was shown during a State of Play presentation by Sony on January 31, 2024, confirming its subtitle, On the Beach, and a release window of 2025.[36] That same day, Kojima announced a new project with the working title Physint, in collaboration with Columbia Pictures. Described as both a film and a video game, it is scheduled to enter full development after work on Death Stranding 2 was complete.[37] In November 2024, Kojima Productions announced that they had reclaimed the intellectual property rights to Death Stranding from Sony Interactive Entertainment, and had planned to bring the game to additional platforms, coinciding with the immediate launch of Director's Cut on Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Store for Windows, and the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service.[38][39]

On December 31, 2024, Kojima publicly revealed that the video game strike resulted in the delay for the planned release of two games, OD and Physint.[40][41]

Film production

In November 2019, Kojima Productions announced their plans to make films.[42] Two years later, in November 2021, the studio announced that it would open a new business division for films and television series in Los Angeles.[43] In December 2022, it was announced that Kojima Productions was partnering with Hammerstone Studios to produce a film based on Death Stranding, with Hammerstone providing funding.[44] It was also announced that A24 is working on the film.[45]

Games

Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s)
  1. REDIRECT Template:Reference column heading
2019 Death Stranding PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows Sony Interactive Entertainment, 505 Games Template:Centered
2021 Death Stranding: Director's Cut PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna Template:Centered
2025 Software:Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PlayStation 5 Sony Interactive Entertainment Template:Centered
TBA OD TBA Xbox Game Studios Template:Centered
Physint[lower-alpha 2] PlayStation console Sony Interactive Entertainment; co-production with Columbia Pictures Template:Centered

Filmography

Year Title Notes
  1. REDIRECT Template:Reference column heading
2024 Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds Documentary; co-production with PlayStation Studios and Filmworks; distributed by Disney+ Template:Centered
TBA Untitled Death Stranding film Co-production with Hammerstone Studios and A24 Template:Centered
Death Stranding: Mosquito[lower-alpha 2] Animated film; co-production with ABC Animation Studio Template:Centered

Notes

  1. ↑ 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).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Working title

References

  1. ↑ Middler, Jordan (17 June 2025). "Hideo Kojima says Clair Obscur team size is ideal: 'They have 33 team members and a dog'". Video Games Chronicle. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/hideo-kojima-says-clair-obscur-team-size-is-ideal-they-have-33-team-members-and-a-dog/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "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. ↑ Blevins, Tal (August 19, 2005). "GC 2005: Hideo Kojima Interview". https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/19/gc-2005-hideo-kojima-interview. 
  8. ↑ Nutt, Christian (October 15, 2007). "Infiltrating Kojima Productions: Ryan Payton Talks Metal Gear Solid 4". p. 5. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/infiltrating-kojima-productions-ryan-payton-talks-metal-gear-solid-4. 
  9. ↑ Doree, Adam (2008-08-24). "Hideo Kojima: The Kikizo Interview 2008". Kikizo. http://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/hideo-kojima-interview-2008-p1.asp. 
  10. ↑ "Kojima Productions L.A. Building campus in Playa Vista, the 'Red Fox' to Tokyo studio". March 27, 2013. https://www.polygon.com/2013/3/27/4154092/kojima-productions-los-angeles-gdc. 
  11. ↑ "What it was like working at Kojima Productions Los Angeles". October 30, 2019. https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/30/20939334/what-it-was-like-working-at-kojima-productions-los-angeles. 
  12. ↑ 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/. 
  13. ↑ 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. 
  14. ↑ 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. 
  15. ↑ 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. 
  16. ↑ "Nominees | The Game Awards 2015". Ola Balola. November 12, 2015. http://thegameawards.com/nominees/. 
  17. ↑ 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. 
  18. ↑ 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. 
  19. ↑ 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/. 
  20. ↑ 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. 
  21. ↑ "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.
  22. ↑ 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. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "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. 
  24. ↑ "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/. 
  25. ↑ 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/. 
  26. ↑ 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. 
  27. ↑ "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. 
  28. ↑ 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. 
  29. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (June 14, 2016). "Kojima Productions Announce Death Stranding". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/14/death-stranding-kojima-productions-first-game/. 
  30. ↑ 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/. 
  31. ↑ Carreau, Glenn (March 30, 2020). "Kojima Productions Employee Tests Positive for Coronavirus". https://gamerant.com/kojima-productions-employee-tests-positive-coronavirus/. 
  32. ↑ 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/. 
  33. ↑ 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. 
  34. ↑ 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/. 
  35. ↑ "First trailer for Death Stranding 2 shows Norman Reedus return". December 10, 2022. https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a42205943/death-stranding-2-trailer-norman-reedus/. 
  36. ↑ Bailey, Kat (31 January 2024). "Death Stranding 2 Story and Gameplay Revealed in Extended Trailer, Releasing in 2025 - State of Play 2024" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/death-stranding-2-story-revealed-in-extended-trailer-state-of-play-2024. 
  37. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Physint
  38. ↑ Croft, Liam (2024-11-07). "Death Stranding Gets a Surprise Xbox Series X|S Port, Out Now" (in en-GB). https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/11/death-stranding-gets-a-surprise-xbox-series-xs-port-out-now. 
  39. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2024-11-07). "Death Stranding Surprise-Launches on Xbox Series X and S as Kojima Productions Takes Control of the IP" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/death-stranding-surprise-launches-on-xbox-series-x-and-s-as-kojima-productions-takes-control-of-the-ip. 
  40. ↑ Straw, Mike (December 31, 2024). "Hideo Kojima's OD And Physint Suffer Delays Due To SAG-AFTRA Strike". Inside Gaming. https://insider-gaming.com/hideo-kojimas-od-and-physint-suffer-delays-to-due-sag-aftra-strike/. Retrieved December 31, 2024. 
  41. ↑ Kojima, Hideo [@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN]. "For OD, we developed the game and had actor and environment scanning. In the second half of the year, scanning and filming were suspended due to the SAG strike. Casting was also suspended for Physint due to the strike. We hope to resume next year.". https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1873951232764895628.  Missing or empty |date= (help)
  42. ↑ 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. 
  43. ↑ 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/. 
  44. ↑ 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/. 
  45. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Movie A24

Template:Zone of the Enders seriesTemplate:Boktai series



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Company:Kojima_Productions&oldid=4026585"