Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes told the tale of Kojima’s departure before Konami did

Around the one year mark of Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes' release date, Konami began taking game creator Hideo Kojima's name off the games that he created. After a short while, Konami put his name back on the games, only to take it off once again.

The issue between Konami and Kojima comes from a dissolution between the two, resulting in Kojima taking a boot from the company. Konami will continue creating the games from the series, except without the series' creator.

A mission in Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes, called Deja Vu had players going around erasing Kojima's Metal Gear games throughout a game level and ended with a cryptic message.

"You might be able to erase the markings, but the memories will never disappear…"

The mission has Kojima thanking fans for their support and almost feels as though Kojima knew Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain would be his final creation in the series. It could have been a warning or it could have been simply coincidence, unless Kojima speaks on the mission itself we will never know.