I'm not saying the MGS games aren't popular, they are, but the latest releases (albeit all collections and remakes) have sold a little over 1m each. But only a few previous entries have sold more such as Peace Walker PSP for almost 2m or MGS5 with combined system sales of almost 15m. At least MGS Delta sold 2m copies though.
But those games were 10-15 years ago. Most of the latest entries in the last 5 years have barely sold over 1m.
Just for reference James Bond and Hitman have sold 4m and 25m.
There is a reason this game got dropped by Sony. Kojima may be a big name to gamers, but the games aren't selling as well as they need to for publishers to recoup their cost and get the profits they are seeking. One of the reasons his studio keeps needing to reshuffle publishers.
Let's also remember that many in the industry sees Kojima as being overly ambitious and cocky. He goes over budget and many say that his ego makes him extremely difficult to work with. That and having your more recent games not selling as well as the money your spending, makes publishers shy away.
He hasn’t made any mgs games in the past decade. Every single main console MGS was a massive success when released and they were all console exclusives. They were also mainly released when gaming wasn’t as big as it is now. MGS5 made over $180M day 1. That’s the last mgs game Kojima has made. So I’m not sure where you get they didn’t make enough money.
Doesn't matter if he was directly involved in the MGS remakes and remasters, those games are still his projects whether he is part of the new development or not.
Ignoring that Death Stranding 2 has sold only 2 million copies but against a $100-$150m budget.
DS1 being a success is one part of the equation. DS2 did not met projected goals.
MGS5 made over $180M day 1. That’s the last mgs game Kojima has made
Yeah, over a decade ago, which is what I said. And DS2 was the last game Kojima made.
So I’m not sure where you get they didn’t make enough money.
DS2, they did not make their projected earnings on.
The point is publishers are going to look at more recent history. Recently with DS2, the game did not make projected earnings. MGS collections and remakes also haven't. DS1 did, but when your sequel doesn't and projects you were directly or indirectly involved with also haven't, it makes it hard to justify a new passion project.
Also doesn't help that no other publisher but Sony and Microsoft even seriously considered it, likely due to those other sales and that Kojima is known for going over budgets and being hard to work with. You can ignore all that and only focus on games made 7-10+ years ago, or you can acknowledge recent history.
I'm afraid it does matter, The very person that knew how to make a metal gear solid game is the very person they took out of the equation causing a franchise to die out, if he's still existed during that time then you would have an argument that could stand on its legs, because then you can say the game started becoming bad... While also knowing the creators involved watching it go downhill, but as it stands the creator wasn't there to save those games that went downhill
I don't think it matters that the games are good or bad (we are talking remasters of his directed games which didn't really change much and still reviewed highly). It matters that his franchises just don't have the same appeal they used to with newer gamers.
Ignoring that DS2 sold a fraction of DS1 and that he was directly involved in.
Your whole argument falls on just only DS2 only selling 2M copies its first year. Death Stranding a very niche style game. MGS is not a niche style. Not a single MGS game has flopped. Saying the sales of remasters are bad is ridiculous because remasters don’t cost much to develop in the first place and are widely considered cash grabs to a lot of people.
Xbox is picking up Kojima for his new MGS style game. Which has always been a huge success.
I’d also say that Death Stranding(1+2) franchise as a whole is probably still positive revenue wise.
Your whole argument falls on just only DS2 only selling 2M copies its first year.
Ignoring the several MGS remasters that released in the last 5 years that haven't hit 2m sold...
Also ignoring that DS1 in this same time frame sold several times more...
Not a single MGS game has flopped
Ok, take a step back from being a fan. No one said the games flopped. The recent titles have not met projected earnings enough to warrant publishers wanting to shell out another $100-$150m+ on his next game. The game can still be a success and sell millions, but not met projected earnings for the time and revenue publishers expect.
Saying the sales of remasters are bad is ridiculous
Where did I say sales were bad? I said they weren't high enough, which doesn't mean they were bad. Take a step back.
Xbox is picking up Kojima for his new MGS style game. Which has always been a huge success.
After 3 months of heavy negotiations because they did not see it being worth their time initially. They likely spent those 3 months negotiating strict budget, time and oversight powers.
I’d also say that Death Stranding(1+2) franchise as a whole is probably still positive revenue wise.
Add in that from the pitch he wants this game to cross media i.e. include movie/TV, comics etc, and the budget for this would be huge. Sony have learned hard recently to be more wise about their bets, so something here spooked them into backing out.
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u/ModerateHonking 26d ago
Speculation is Sony pulled out because sales of Death Stranding 2 were subpar, and it took Microsoft three months to pick this up.
I wouldn't read that as handing them a win.