Konami prevents Kojima from receiving award

Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima was blocked by Konami from accepting an award at last night’s Game Awards event.

Instead, Metal Gear Solid V star Kiefer Sutherland took to the stage to accept the prize for Best Action/Adventure Game.

"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."

At this point there was fierce booing from the crowd.

"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," Keighley added.

"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.

Story originally published on MCV.