Konami Shuts Down LA Studio Behind ‘Metal Gear Online’

Less than a month after the launch of the Metal Gear Online multiplayer component for Metal Gear Solid V — and still months away from the PC multiplayer launch — Konami has reportedly shut down the MGO-focused Konami Los Angeles Studio.

Formerly known simply as “Konami LA,” the studio originally functioned as a branch of Kojima Productions. They were responsible for much of Metal Gear Online‘s development, but primary control of the project was absorbed back into Konami’s Japanese studio shortly before launch of Metal Gear Solid V.

Konami Los Angeles Studio continued to provide support to Metal Gear Online, despite quickly dwindling personnel and resources. As Konami continues their slash and burn approach to its mainstream game development, the small remaining team’s days have been numbered. Employees were only made aware of the closure yesterday.

Hideo Kojima himself reportedly left Konami in early October, after wrapping up development on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. His name had been removed from promotional materials, and his production studio was absorbed. Silent Hills, which was to be a collaboration between Kojima and acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, was also cancelled.

Metal Gear Online‘s launch was already troubled. Issues as serious as bullets not properly firing and black boxes in place of in-game assets during game play are just a few examples of the numerous problems that have been addressed in the weeks since its debut. With the PC multiplayer release still on the horizon, Konami’s support — or lack thereof — of their most iconic brand is looking increasingly bleak.

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