Ken-Ichiro Imaizumi, an integral part of some of the greatest games of all time, has suddenly stepped away from his role at Kojima Productions. Imaizumi has been a staple of Kojima’s companies during his time with Konami and worked as the chief producer for 2019s Death Stranding. While no official reason for the sudden departure has been given as of this writing, internal conflicts with fellow directors seemed to be a bridge too far for the industry veteran.
Imaizumi was a big part of the legendary Metal Gear Solid series, serving as a producer for every game since 2001s Sons of Liberty. He also previously worked on other notable Konami titles such as Vandal Hearts and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. For Death Stranding, Imaizumi was the corporate director and oversaw the entirety of the project, though was notably absent from the game’s worldwide promotional tour.
If the rumors are true, then Imaizumi was already out the door well before his departure was made official. Disagreements with the production staff as well as fellow directors are said to have been the primary reason he left, but neither Imaizumi nor Kojima Productions has made any kind of statement regarding the move. The ambitious Death Stranding hasn’t exactly found the universal acclaim enjoyed by the Metal Gear Solid series and its variants, with the game’s narrative and overly methodical pace dividing fans and critics alike.
While a senior employee leaving a company after such a long tenure is troubling, even as Kojima Productions is finally standing on its own independent of Konami, Death Stranding’s middling reception may have caused waves within the company. At the same time, the game has been a financial success for all intents and purposes, but perhaps the decision to walk away was based off where the company may be headed.
If a disagreement with directors does ring true, it might have to do with the production team trying to create a bridge from video games to film. Unlike any previous titles in Kojima’s career, Death Stranding hosted a large amount of celebrities such as Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Lea Seydoux and even Conan O’Brien. With Metal Gear Solid looking to make a disastrous transition to film in the near future, a lack of faith could be enough to make the seasoned executive walk away from it all.
Source: Video Game Chronicle