Konami confirms Kojima Productions Los Angeles shutting down

In a statement given to IGN today, Konami confirmed the closure of Konami Los Angeles Studios, also known as Kojima Productions Los Angeles. 

The official statement reads:

“Konami has made the decision to close its Los Angeles Studio, effective immediately, due to the product development resources being restructured into a more centralized unit. This facility contributed to the recent Metal Gear Solid games. Konami will continue its operations to support all Metal Gear Solid titles, including the recently launched Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online. Metal Gear Online is still scheduled to release for PC Steam in January 2016.”

This closure takes away 35 jobs, some commenting upon ill-timing with Christmas right around the corner.

BREAKING: Rumor tells me that Konami has shut down the Kojima Productions LA studio, taking with it approx 35 jobs, just before Xmas.

— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) November 3, 2015

It is worth noting that Kojima Productions Los Angeles focused primarily on the development of Metal Gear Solid Online. Although, the responsibility for the online multiplayer was switched over to the Japan branch right before the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

The news of the closure shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, however. Rumors about the studio’s closing have been circulating since March when Hideo Kojima’s name and Kojima’s Productions’ logo was removed from Konami’s Metal Gear Solid website, the LA studio’s listing, social accounts and marketing material.

In July, Akio Otsuka, the Japanese voice actor for Solid Snake, tweeted that the office would disband after the completion of Metal Gear Solid V. The tweet was translated by Gematsu.

Kojima Production’s final game was Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

What do you think of this news? Are you disappointed the studio is closing? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!