Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions’ new IP will be console exclusive to PlayStation 4. This surprised many given that Kojima has been advocate for multiplatform games this generation. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was a multi-platform game and he designed the FOX engine to support as many platforms as possible. Given that his next game will be exclusive to one console and will only come to the PC after while came as a shock to to some fans. The game will potentially never release on the Xbox One but Kojima has his own reasons.
“With Sony PlayStation they make their content globally. It’s thanks to Sony that I was able to make a splash in the global market. It’s been 10 plus years since then and the working relationship at Sony, we gel well,” he said in a interview with IGN.
Earlier this year, we reported how Konami had become a terrible place to work at and poorly they were treating their employees but working with Sony makes Kojima comfortable and he believes that he needs this type of environment to develop a new IP.
“People at Sony have been friendly with me, I work well with them. I got several offers from different companies but with Sony it came to the point where I know these people, we know each other well. I feel like this is an environment where I will be able to make something and feel comfortable. And I believe that’s the environment I need right now. We know each other, we understand each other, and based on this relationship, I think it’s good point to create a new IP. That’s the reason why I chose to work with Sony on this project.”
Given that Kojima Productions is headquartered in Japan and Kojima has relationships with the PlayStation family that goes way back, it’s no surprise that he partnered with them. And did I mentioned that Sony is current leading this console cycle?
I guess, that too was a reason.