see deal Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PC) $19.99 on Humble Bundle

Following the success of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain already shipped 5 million copies , Konami is reportedly gearing up for the next entry in its beloved stealth-action series.

Loading

Loading

According to Nikkei (via Kotaku ) the publisher is currently planning what's next for Metal Gear Solid, confirming the next entry in the series won't be a small project. "When we start development, a large-scale investment will become necessary," Konami said.The article also mentions series creator Hideo Kojima, whose relationship with Konami has been rocky at best . According to the report, Kojima's involvement remains unconfirmed, as the Metal Gear mastermind has yet to comment on whether or not he plans return. While Kojima is rumored to have left the company , Konami claims he's simply on vacation.Regardless of whether or not Kojima is attached to the project, it appears Konami has every intention of moving forward with the series. In fact, community manager Graham Day recently suggested the series can continue on without its creator In other Konami-related news, Kojima Productions' Los Angeles-based studio is rumored to be shutting down . As such, be sure to stay tuned to IGN for more on what's next for Konami, Kojima, and the Metal Gear Solid franchise.

Alex Osborn is a freelancer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter