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Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima was instructed he was not permitted to attend The Game Awards 2015 ceremony to accept any awards for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

“As you noticed Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I want to tell you a little bit about that,” explained Keighley. “Mr. Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight’s awards ceremony to accept any awards.”“He’s still under an employment contract and it’s disappointing, and it’s inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers and his fellow teammates.”Metal Gear Solid V won best action/adventure game during the show. The award was accepted on behalf of Kojima and the Kojima Productions team by Kiefer Sutherland, voice of Snake in MGSV.It was reported in October that Hideo Kojima had finally parted ways with Konami after a long-running saga between the two, although Konami officially denied Kojima had left, insisting Kojima remained listed as a company employee.

Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can chat to him on Twitter