Kojima Game Awards revelation wasn’t a planned part of the show

The revelation last week that Konami had blocked Hideo Kojima’s attendance of The Game Awards was an impromptu decision.

The developer was awarded the Best Action/Adventure Game prize at the event but was prevented from attending by Konami lawyers. And in a spur of the moment decision, host Geoff Keighley felt the audience had to know.

It just broke my heart that he couldn’t be with us – something had to be said,” Keighley said on Reddit. I didn’t tell anyone on the show team what I was going to say and it wasn’t rehearsed.

I wanted him to know that we were thinking of him. I was trying to do all I could to make him feel connected to the show, even if he couldn’t be with us physically in LA. Heartbreaking situation.”

On the night the award was collected by Metal Gear Solid V star Kiefer Sutherland.

"Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I wanted to tell you a little bit about that," host Geoff Keighly told the audience. "Mr Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight’s award ceremony to accept any awards.

"He’s under an employment contract and it’s disappointing and it’s inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers. But that’s the situation we’re in. Hideo is in Tokyo right now watching the show, and we wanted you to know Hideo that we’re thinking of you and we miss you. We hope to see you at The Game Awards 2016."

Kojima is widely believed to have left Konami, although the publisher’s official stance is simply that he’s on holiday.