Konami was one of the initial companies confirmed for the first-ever digital E3 showcase this June 2021. However, “due to timing”, Konami has had to pull out of E3 2021, before reassuring fans that it is in “deep development of several key projects”.
Why Konami Not Attending E3 2021 Is a Big Deal
Konami is one of the biggest publishers in video games, being behind iconic franchises like Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Metal Gear Solid, the latter of which has been the subject of multiple speculations, leaks, and rumors over the past year or two. Although Konami has not done much in the way of video game releases over the past few years, it is set to release its first new title soon in years while also promising that this is just the beginning. With that said, while Konami’s news of dropping out of E3 2021 is unfortunate, Konami did leave fans something to get excited about. As per their latest statement, Konami let their fans know that they are working on multiple projects at the moment. Even better, Konami hints at making a couple of announcements if not reveals soon. Admittedly, E3 2021 would have made for the perfect avenue to showcase whatever it is they are working on. However, Konami doesn’t necessarily have to the E3 route if they were to announce a new game or two. As we’ve already mentioned, Konami is one of the giants in the video game industry. Their name alone commands attention. Who’s to say that they won’t pull off a Square Enix or Capcom and host their own video game showcase?
What’s Next for Konami?
The only confirmed project Konami has in the proverbial books is GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon. After this, we know very little about what Konami has planned. But, if it’s any consolation, the rumor mill has been churning for quite a while. In particular, multiple sources and leakers claim that there is more than one Metal Gear Solid title in the works. In addition to the Metal Gear Solid Collection that we reported on earlier, some believe that Bluepoint Games is working on a remake of the original Metal Gear with a Metal Gear Solid movie in development starring Oscar Isaac. It’s worth noting, however, that the key figures behind the Castlevania and Metal Gear franchises have long since left Konami. Metal Gear’s creator, Hideo Kojima, had a highly publicized split with Konami in 2015. Kojima has since been running his own video game development studio, Kojima Productions. Kojima also released a divisive but beloved title in Death Stranding. Meanwhile, Castlevania’s former Lead Producer, Koji Igarashi, also left Konami right around the same time. Igarashi also co-founded his own company, Artplay, where he went on to release a spiritual successor to one of his most iconic works, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, in 2019, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Without those two men involved, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of direction future Metal Gear and Castlevania games will take.
