The reason Hideo Kojima wasn’t at The Game Awards will piss you off

After Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain released, you'd think Konami would be less disposed to publically humiliate Metal Gear creator and director Hideo Kojima, after all, Kojima has been creating some of their best selling games for years. The humiliation of Hideo Kojima began back in March, when Konami slowly began erasing Kojima's name from the games he created and they published.

Konami quickly put Hideo Kojima's name back on Metal Gear Solid games after the public began noticing what they were doing (and quite possibly Kojima threatening them). Unfortunately, Konami wasn't done with Kojima after that (even though they denied anything weird was happening).

During last night's Game Awards, Konami threw yet another low blow at Kojima. The Phantom Pain won the award for best action/adventure game last night, but Kojima wasn't there to take the stage and accept the award for a game he created and directed. Instead, Big Boss voice actor Kiefer Sutherland accepted the award on Kojima's behalf.

Amidst the confusion of Sutherland on stage and wondering where Kojima was, the Game Award host and producer Geoff Keighley revealed that Kojima was legally prohibited by Konami from attending the event (which happened again two days prior to this event at an award ceremony in Japan). The reveal was met with boos from the crowd.

"As you noticed Hideo Kojima is not here tonight," Keighley said. "Mr. Kojima had every intention of being here, but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight’s award ceremony to accept any awards. He’s still under employment and contract and it’s disappointing. It’s inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo Kojima would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers and his fellow teammates."

Konami is just too salty. Best wishes to Hideo Kojima.