Konami LA, the studio behind the multiplayer component of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, has been shut down, reportedly taking out 35 jobs.
Rumors flew when George Broussard, co-founder of 3D Realms, tweeted that the studio was closing it’s doors.
“Rumor tells me that Konami has shut down the Kojima Productions LA studio, taking with it approx 35 jobs, just before Xmas,” Broussard tweeted.
The report was later confirmed by Konami, who issued the following statement on the matter:
“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. 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.”
Konami has declined, however, to speak about how many jobs were lost.
Konami LA was formed in 2013 to develop the most recent iteration of Metal Gear Online. The studio was originally apart of Kojima Productions, but after an alleged power-struggle between Konami and Kojima Productions, the studio was renamed.