The Intended Self-Destruction of Konami

Another one bites the dust.


This one however is a self-inflicted wound.


Konami is about to exit the gaming industry altogether, which is both a shock and a disappointment to gamers everywhere. After over two decades of being relevant (although more relevant in the 90s) and handing us notorious franchises like Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania, Contra, Pro Evolution Soccer and owning franchises like Bomberman, Bonk, and Adventure Island, Konami’s place in the gaming world is about to disappear.

The beginning of the end didn’t seem obvious at first, but with the controversy surrounding Kojima and Metal Gear Solid 5 we noticed something was brewing. But them pretty much eliminating the console market aspect and focusing more on mobile games and gambling machines was not on our list of potential explanations. Konami is nowhere near as strong as it used to be, so financially and business-wise it makes sense, but as a fan of gaming it hurts quite deep.

Where does Metal Gear Solid go? Especially after firing Kojima and doing whatever it takes to hide the evidence. Where do all the valuable franchises go from here? Unfortunately, they might enter the more mainstream, lower-budgeted, not-as-rewarding mobile market. It would be the equivalent of Applebees transforming into a McDonalds-like place with drive-thru. There are a lot of great ideas and wonderful franchises that might become severely watered-down in the coming years now that you won't see them on a Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo system.

The baffling part is that just a couple years ago they took Hudson Soft and all their franchises. So clearly competing in the console wars was on their radar. What changed? Rising costs, rising competition, and the mere fact that its just much easier to produce and financially profit off of phone games. Although you won't hit GTA V numbers making mobile games, its the much safer option. Its much safer to focus on the Vegas gambling machines. Sadly, this is all at the expense of the gaming community, which spurns lots of hate in the online world.

Konami's disappearing act from the gaming world is following the disappearing acts of Sega and Square Enix. But unlike the other companies recently shifting their focus, Konami wasn't financially unstable, and came very abruptly. It also cost us a potentially flawless Metal Gear Solid 5 (if you don't think workplace drama affects the final product, you haven't actually held a job), cost us a Guillermo Del Toro Silent Hill, and future installments of both franchises alongside Castlevania and Contra (barring a franchise garage sale of some sort).




And this is what frightens hardcore gamers more than anything---the willingness to stop trying to entertain them.