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Kojima has a beard, reforming independent KojiPro, working with Sony on new IP

Sony has announced they have entered into an agreement with a newlyfound Kojima Productions, which is different than the old one but also the same in many ways. That song from The Who explains it better than me, although let’s hope the new boss is not the same as the old boss.

Sony proudly proclaims the new game from the studio will be console exclusive to PS4 – which almost always means it will be a PS4/PC game when eventually released. That release will likely be a very long time away, as Kojima-san only very recently officially left Konami, and had a lot of contractual shenanigans stopping him from working on anything new until now.

The only details known about the game is that it will be a “new IP,” so don’t expect PT / Silent Hills to make an appearance outside the walls of Konami. For the same reasoning it likely won’t be a reimagining of Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand either. Sadness.

Have no fear, Kojima-san and his team likely have many ideas rattling around in their collective heads they want to get out, and likely wanted to for many years. With Metal Gear now behind them, some of the ideas will be able to escape. Without the necessity to include various versions of warmongering in their games due to the zaniness of the Metal Gear Solid mythology, the new game could literally be about anything.

The game could be about the repressed feelings of a sentient bowl of custard for example. It must be awful to realise you are a non-newtonian fluid, and have to live with that daily.

Hideo Kojima posted the following message to Twitter to coincide with the announcement:

Here is some PR speak nonsense from Andrew House, President and Global CEO at Sony

PlayStation’s history is one of game innovation and great new franchises. Hideo Kojima has been a huge part of that history, and we are therefore delighted that he has chosen to bring his brand new project to life in partnership with PlayStation. We look forward to working with him on an exciting new game and warmly welcome him to the PlayStation family.

Hideo Kojima himself says the following

I 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. I cannot wait to deliver, with PlayStation, a game that will become a compelling franchise.

In other equally important news, Kojima is rocking a beard now:

koji-beard

…it is obvious for all to see that Konami forced him to shave his beard in year’s past, and only now is he allowed to grow facial hair. They are truly evil. He was probably inspired by Shawn Layden’s majestic bristles.

Here is the announcement video for the Kojima / Sony partnership, and here is the new Kojima Productions logo – it is pretty snazzy. Here is the newly launched Kojima Production site. They are currently hiring for a bunch of positions, and already posting words that make little sense.