More than half the developers listed in Death Stranding credits defected from Konami

Of the 120 core developers credited in the credit roll of Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding, 67 reportedly defected from Konami to join Kojima in his new studio.

As analysed by VGC, over half of the credited developers are known to have previously worked at Kojima’s prior employer, Konami, and 62 had previously been involved in Kojima’s final game for Konami, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, including new Kojima Productions’ president, Shinji Hirano, who had previously worked as a Konami executive and division president.

According to the analysis, “virtually all” of Death Stranding’s lead design and art positions were populated by former Konami/Metal Gear developers. The credits also acknowledge “support partners” and fellow Sony studios Insomniac and Bend, as well as listing 70+ Guerrilla Games developers that also contributed to Death Stranding. 40 of these were Guerrilla engineers, including Horizon Zero Dawn’s lead game programmer Tommy De Roos, lead programmer Frank Compagner, and technical director Michiel van der Leeuw.

To see the full list of KJP staff, including those that defected, head to VGC. Death Stranding,

Kojima Production’s first game, Death Stranding, is released today worldwide. Right now it’s available exclusively on PlayStation 4, though a PC version will follow in 2020.

Kojima and Konami parted publicly and messily back in 2015 and for several months, Konami denied reports claiming Hideo Kojima had left the company even though there was evidence of the split courtesy of a photograph taken at the “rather cheerful but also emotional goodbye” farewell party. The Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima was then “contractually forbidden” from discussing his split with Konami.

Konami recently confirmed it was establishing a new Tokyo base for its esports activities which is expected to include not just offices, but also classes, shops, and an esports arena, too. The construction of the Konami Creative Center (KCC Ginza) is hoped to complete in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The brand new premises in Ginza will sit across 12-floors, including an underground one, and boast state-of-the-art sound, video, lighting, and communications systems.