Konami's has had a strange relationship with video games over the last few years. Once one of the biggest names in gaming and home to many beloved franchises, the company has put gaming on the backburner while shifting its focus to other ventures. Now, it appears that Konami is drifting even further away from the video game industry.
The once-great Japanese publisher has been doing some internal restructuring that has fans worried about its future in the gaming world. It has appointed several new members to its executive board, including new chief operating officer Hideki Hayakawa and Senior Executive Officer Shoji Dewa. However, more interesting (and troubling) is the news regarding its Production Divisions.
Starting February 1, 2021, Konami will dissolve Production Divisions 1-3 to keep up with the rapid market changes surrounding the company, a decision that seems to push it further away from gaming. Some are even speculating that Konami might be gearing up to sell some of its legendary IPs, putting the future of Silent Hill and Castlevania into question.
Thankfully, there is some reason for fans to hold onto their hopes that Konami will continue in the gaming world. The company's Production Departments still exist, meaning that this may simply be a story of corporate restructuring rather than anything more significant. Although its future endeavors are remain in question, Konami doesn't seem to be getting rid of its gaming department entirely.
If Konami did step away from the video game industry, it wouldn't be all that shocking. The company found great success creating pachinko machines and mobile casino games, causing it to shift its focus away from the console market. It has ported some of its old IPs to other platforms, but it's a far cry from what Konami produced in the past. With Konami games becoming less prevalent over time and many franchises going unrecognized for so long, the company selling off its IPs may not be a bad thing.
Many would rather see Konami allow others to take on its beloved franchises than watching them fall further into obscurity. Allowing studios with respectable track records, many of which have clearly been inspired by Konami's output, to continue some of the great Konami franchises would be better than leaving them stagnant as they have been for so long. Other companies have taken similar routes and saw their IPs successfully live on through other publishers and developers. It might not sound appealing, but it may be the only way to resurrect series like Castlevania and Silent Hill.
Konami is far from the video game powerhouse it used to be. It appears the days of making Metal Gear Solid and Contra are over. However, while Konami's restructuring may be troubling, this news alone doesn't mean the company has completely given up on video games. While the Production Divisions are being dissolved, the Production Departments still exist, meaning they could just be entering a new phase. Now isn't the time to entirely count Konami out, as the company may just continue proving why it's one of the most unpredictable players in the industry.