Kojima Productions

Japan Founded 2005 Website

The production team was formed in April 2005, after Konami merged several subsidiaries including Kojima's group at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Kojima said the merger relieved him of business management and administrative burdens he had as KCEJ's vice president, and that as head of Kojima Productions he could focus on creating games. According to Kojima, while he now held a position on the Konami board, he still had to persuade staff to invest in his game ideas. On March 16, 2015, Konami announced that it had restructured the game development operations to change the production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, "in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business". A few days later, an anonymous Konami employee stated that Kojima and the studio's senior staff had planned to leave Konami in December 2015 following the conclusion of their contracts and the release of The Phantom Pain. Konami denied that Kojima was leaving the company and stated that he would still be involved with the company and the Metal Gear franchise. Kojima affirmed that he was still "100% involved" in The Phantom Pain and was determined to make it the greatest game he could. In December 2015, the production team was nominated for Developer of the Year at The Game Awards 2015, but lost to CD Projekt Red. Kojima was reportedly blocked from attending the event by Konami's lawyers, requiring Big Boss's actor Kiefer Sutherland to accept the awards for The Phantom Pain on his behalf. On December 16, 2015, in a joint announcement with Sony Computer Entertainment, Kojima announced that he would start an independent studio—also named Kojima Productions—alongside Yoji Shinkawa and Kenichiro Imaizumi. The studio announced that it would develop a new franchise for PlayStation 4. Kojima stated that he "will be taking on a new challenge by establishing my own independent studio, and I am thrilled to be able to embark on this journey with PlayStation, who I have continued to work with all these past years". In 2016, the studio opened a small division in Amsterdam, near Guerilla Games, who developed the Decima game engine that Kojima uses. At E3 2016, Kojima unveiled a trailer to Death Stranding during Sony's pre-E3 conference. It was released by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2019, and a PC version was released by 505 Games on Windows in July 2020. Imaizumi left the company in 2019. On June 12, 2022, during Microsoft's digital presentation, Kojima announced that it had partnered with Xbox Game Studios to develop a new game featuring a "never before-seen concept" and leveraging Microsoft's "cutting-edge cloud technology". At The Game Awards 2023, Kojima revealed the new game, OD. It was also revealed that Jordan Peele is working with Kojima on the game.

Kojima Productions at a Glance

Kojima Productions formed in April 2005 when Hideo Kojima established his own team after leaving administrative duties at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. The studio spent its first decade creating games primarily for PlayStation systems while still under the Konami umbrella. Their output grew from seven titles in the 2000s to twelve games in the 2010s before settling to just three releases in the 2020s so far. They are best known for their shooter and adventure titles, though they have also released tactical, role-playing, and puzzle games. The majority of their catalog appears on PlayStation platforms, with nine titles for PlayStation 4 and eight for PlayStation 3. The company's reputation rests heavily on high scores across its history. Out of twelve rated games, nine received great ratings above 80 while only two fell into the good range. There is one mixed title in their record but no poor ones. Their top-rated works include Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots from 2008 and Death Stranding 2: On The Beach from 2025, which holds a score of 93.3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain also earned a high mark of 90.3 in 2015. These games span decades but show a consistent ability to deliver polished experiences on consoles. Tensions with their former parent company shaped the studio's path. Konami restructured operations in 2015 and blocked Kojima from attending award ceremonies, yet the developer finished The Phantom Pain before parting ways. They officially launched as an independent entity in late 2015 with a partnership with Sony to build a new franchise for PlayStation 4. This effort resulted in Death Stranding, which released in 2019 and received positive reception. A Director's Cut version followed in 2021 to refine the experience. The studio expanded its reach by releasing versions on PC and Xbox platforms later on. Recent years show a shift toward new partnerships. In 2022, Kojima Productions announced a collaboration with Xbox Game Studios to create a game using cloud technology. They revealed this project, titled OD, in late 2023 with Jordan Peele involved. Despite the drop in annual output since their peak years, the studio maintains strong critical standing. Their catalog remains focused on action and strategy genres rather than turning toward mobile or casual markets. Players looking for high-quality shooters from this developer will find a solid track record of success spanning two decades.

Total Games

81.3

Avg Rating

2005

First Release

2025

Latest Release