Metal Gear Solid 5 will not be made by Hideo Kojima, who wants to create Zone of the Enders 3 or a Snatcher remake

Konami’s upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3 (due June 12) is the latest stealth game in a series that has been going strong for the last 20 years. In an interview with Hideo Kojima, creator of the series, he was asked if this was the last game in the series and even if he may not be making another one himself, he said he’d produce more spin-off PSP handheld games and hinted that a Metal Gear Solid 5 sequel might be a possibility without him.

Question: Obviously, the first question that’s on everyone’s mind is: Why exactly did you feel this was the right time to end the Metal Gear Solid series?

Hideo Kojima answers: I was supposed to end this in MGS2, you know, originally (laughs). And then I created MGS3, and I said, ‘Okay, this is the final one. It’s over.’ But people said, ‘No… there’s still not enough answers (in that game)!’ As a game design, the story was almost complete in MGS1, 2 and 3, or so I initially thought. But of course, there were some questions that weren’t answered, especially with some things after MGS2. I didn’t decide that this was the timing – there were a lot of voices saying, ‘We want the answer to all of the questions!’ That’s why as a game, and as a saga, MGS4 is the complete wrap up.

PR-wise, I really don’t want to say that [Metal Gear Solid 4 is] the final game or this is the wrap up, but if I don’t say it, people will make me create MGS again! (laughs) So I have to say, ‘Die, Snake,’ and really end it so I can move on to something else! (laughs) Actually, it’s a game, so even if Snake dies, the game can live on. We have to kill him at a certain point.

Question: Now there were a few things that fans of the series have easily picked up on in footage released of the game, such as Policenauts posters. Even the Mark II is reminiscent of Snatcher. I have a two part question. First, how many elements of previous games, such as Zone of the Enders or Snatcher, have helped to influence or shape game elements of MGS4? Secondly, would you return to Zone of the Enders or Snatcher possibly once you’ve put Metal Gear Solid 4 to rest?

Hideo Kojima answers: You might think that I might pass away because I’m putting everything into this past series! (laughs)

To answer your first question, none, actually – that’s just a service to the fans, the genuine fans of Kojima Productions. Policenauts and Snatcher wasn’t probably released in America and some other parts of the world outside of Japan. In Japan, there are still a lot of core fans who really love all of the series. Even Meryl – she used to appear in Policenauts – so it’s a kind of service to say thank you to the fans, actually.

Finally, it’s the end of Snake, so I’d really want to start something really fresh and new when I create the game for the next one. However, maybe the sequel to ZOE [meaning: Zone of the Enders 3], or a remake of Snatcher, for instance, if I just participate as a producer, yeah, that could be possible.

Picture courtesy of VGboxart, quotes via IGN.

UPDATE May 13th 2008: The Metal Gear Solid 4 press event in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills ended with an audio clip of a phone conversation between franchise foe Revolver Ocelot and an unknown character, with only Ocelot’s side of the conversation presented in the clip. It included a hint at a Metal Gear Solid 4 sequel. To quote:

[Ocelot’s voice]
Yes.
We just finished the press conference.
Yes.
Everything went according to plan.
Yes.
We’re entering into the last phase of the mission.
Do you want to execute the launch day surprise?
Yes, that’s right.
Akihabara, New York, L.A….
Live, simultaneously throughout the world…
Yes, it’s under control.
The VIP’s are happy to participate.
Yeah, that’s right.
That person.
Yes sir, understood.
So on June 12th…
By the way, what should we do about “The Project?”
Yes, that’s correct.
That man has fallen.
It’s about the sequel.
Yes, indeed.
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
I see.
Yes, sir.
Mr. CEO.

Translated by 1UP.

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