Fox Engine tech director Julien Merceron leaves Konami

Julien Merceron, who was instrumental in the development of the Fox Engine, has reportedly left Konami.

The news was first reported by Gameblog and confirmed by IGN’s sources, although no official word of his departure has emerged at the time of writing.

There’s also no word on why Merceron has left, although rumours persist that it is related to Konami’s plans to shift away from consoles and focus on mobile games.

Merceron joined the publisher back in 2013 as worldwide technology director and has been concentrating on the Fox Engine, the tech behind Hideo Kojima’s acclaimed Metal Gear Solid V and the new Pro Evolution Soccer.

Prior to this, he worked as chief technology officer at IO Interactive, Eidos and Crystal Dynamics. He was later promoted to global technology director at Square Enix.

It’s been a turbulent time at Konami thanks to the ongoing dispute between the publisher and Hideo Kojima that has resulted in the director’s name being removed from materials for Metal Gear Solid, the disolution of his studio, and the cancellation of Silent Hills.