Rumor: Konami Dropping Triple-A Development Entirely

Rumors make for the best and worst sources for us game journalists--while unsubstantial and often misleading, they tend to be way juicier and interesting than the stuff companies want us to be reporting on. Plus, if someone really is just making it up, no skin off our back.

But this rumor is certainly troubling. Kind of. Mixed bag.

Coming at us from an unnamed source at Gameblog, there are claims that Konami, the buttcrack of the video game world, is ceasing most all triple-A game development following the release of Metal Gear Solid V. No Metal Gear game is currently in development, pre or otherwise, and the only franchise Konami is working on is the next Pro Evolution Soccer. In fact, Technology Director Julien Merceron, who was a driving force in the Fox Engine for the Metal Gear Solid series, has apparently left the company as well due to disagreements with the direction the company is going

So what direction is Konami going? According to these sources, they’ve moved on to focus almost entirely on mobile gaming, There’s no mention of the fates of Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, or Castlevania, although it’s safe to say they would be taken to the mobile world as well. Technically, they can let other developers use the IP to make their own games, but the last time they did that with Silent Hill, well… it didn’t work out too well.

Still, it’s important to remember these are all just rumors. Konami has not addressed them in any capacity.

If Konami really is dropping out of the triple-A development scene, they sure picked a hell of a game to go out on with Metal Gear Solid V. Might be tempting for anyone to quit after they make a masterpiece like that--just ask Notch.