Metal Gear Solid completes 27 years with a divided legacy

The classic Metal Gear Solid has completed 27 years since its original release in Japan on September 3, 1998. In celebration, its creator, Hideo Kojima, reflected on the game's legacy and the team that produced it. Konami also celebrates the franchise, with the recent release of Metal Gear Solid Delta, which came out less than a week ago, and the 10th anniversary of Metal Gear Solid 5 two days earlier.

In a post on Twitter, Kojima noted that "there are only a handful of people who participated in MGS1 in 1998 who are still a part of the new 'Kojima Productions'." Among the names he mentioned are Yoji Shinkawa ("Shin-chan"), a longtime artist for the series, and Yoshikazu Matsuhana ("Matsuhanaan"), who has worked with Kojima since Snatcher. Kojima's post is a bittersweet reminder of how development teams disperse over time.

The separation between Kojima and Konami is a crucial point in the franchise's history. The current producer of the Metal Gear series, Noriaki Okamura, who was a "special thanks" in the original 1998 game, remains at Konami. Okamura worked on earlier titles by Kojima such as Snatcher and Policenauts before joining the Metal Gear series with Metal Gear Acid 2. Okamura's continued presence at Konami shows a division in the franchise's legacy.

Hideo Kojima's reflection on the 27th anniversary of Metal Gear Solid is an honest look at the realities of the gaming industry. While Kojima's creative vision continues to thrive in projects like Death Stranding 2 and the Metal Gear Solid franchise continues with new titles like Metal Gear Solid Delta, the fact that few people from the original team are still together is a reminder of the passage of time and the changes that occur in an industry that is constantly evolving.

Hideo Kojima's reflection is a reminder of the complex relationships and changes in the industry. Do you think the legacy of Metal Gear Solid is more defined by the creator, the company, or the group of people who made the game?