Developers React to Konami Banning Hideo Kojima from The Game Awards: They Aren’t Happy

Giuseppe Nelva December 4, 2015 3:33 PM EST

Yesterday we learned that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Director Hideo Kojima was prevented by Konami from participating to The Game Awards and from receiving the prize his game deserved. Earlier in the morning, the veteran developer did not attend the PlayStation awards, with three trophies received by Konami PR representatives instead.

Thousands of fans expressed outpouring support for Kojima-san, and explicit rage towards Konami’s apparently nonsensical actions, but they’re not alone. Developers are reacting too, and they aren’t happy, as they expressed on social networks. Here are a few examples.

Infinity Ward Founder Vince Zampella:

Messed up that @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN couldn’t be here, shame on Konami — Vince Zampella (@VinceZampella) December 4, 2015

Ready at Dawn Founder Andrea Pessino:

I am half tempted to grab popcorn and head over to Konami’s tweet feed just to enjoy the well deserved retribution. — Andrea Pessino (@AndreaPessino) December 4, 2015

Only met Mr. Kojima a couple of times (at parties 🙂 ) but I feel honored to work in an industry he has influenced so deeply for 30 years. — Andrea Pessino (@AndreaPessino) December 4, 2015

Konami has denied they were going to stop making AAA games, my guess is that after this they could not continue if they wanted to. — Andrea Pessino (@AndreaPessino) December 4, 2015

Boss Key Productions Founder Cliff Bleszinski:

Yes, I just started this booing myself in here. #TheGameAwards love you @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN tell it like it is @geoffkeighley — Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) December 4, 2015

inXile Founder Brian Fargo:

Hideo Kojima was not allowed to come to The Game Awards by Konami lawyers https://t.co/CHTZAtrh3R Sooooo wrong! — Brian Fargo (@BrianFargo) December 4, 2015

I’ve found too many times where industry execs don’t have a fundamental belief in talent and their actions flow from that. — Brian Fargo (@BrianFargo) December 4, 2015

Far Cry 4 Graphics Technical Director Sebastien Viard:

You have become despicable @Konami. We used to love you when we were kids. Hat off to you Mr @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN — Sebastien Viard (@SebViard) December 4, 2015

Ubisoft Senior PR Stone Chin:

Attorney stopped Hideo Kojima from attending the Game Awards!?! Wow. — Infinity Stone (@GreatWallofChin) December 4, 2015

Loved that @geoffkeighley did not hold any punches. Way to throw down! — Infinity Stone (@GreatWallofChin) December 4, 2015

I have to admit that my feelings reflect those expressed in those tweets, and in many others that populated social media across the day. When I heard Geoff Keighley’s speech, it took me a few seconds to even register that someone, in some legal department somewhere in Tokyo, thought this would be a good, or even acceptable idea.

Many of you know that trying to look for the reasons why companies often take unpopular measures is a big part of my personal philosophy, but at times it isn’t possible. There simply isn’t a justification for this. To conclude, I’ll leave you with Kojima-san’s reaction, that probably sums everything up in the best possible way.

Thank you very much. — HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 4, 2015