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Konami officially shuts down Kojima Productions Los Angeles studio

Konami has confirmed the closure of the Konami Los Angeles development studio, formerly known as Kojima Productions Los Angeles, in a statement to Polygon today. The Japanese corporation explained the move was due to on-going company restructuring, which began earlier this year.

"Konami has made the decision to close its Los Angeles Studio, effective immediately, due to the product development resources being restructured into a more centralized unit," Konami said. "This facility contributed to the recent Metal Gear Solid games. Konami will continue its operations to support all Metal Gear Solid titles, including the recently launched Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online. Metal Gear Online is still scheduled to release for PC Steam in January 2016."

few rumors of the shut down previously circulated last night on Twitter.

Kojima Productions Los Angeles was founded back in 2013 and contributed to the development of Metal Gear Solid V, specifically the competitive multiplayer Metal Gear Online. The studio was re-named Konami Los Angeles this past spring when public news broke about the falling out between Hideo Kojima and Konami.

According to a New York Times article last month, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima left the company following a farewell party on October 9. Konami denied Kojima’s departure, stating that he and the rest of the team are on vacation and “taking a long time off from work.”