The Game Awards: Hideo Kojima banned from attending by Konami as show pays tribute

Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima was banned from attending this year's Game Awards in Los Angeles by publisher Konami, the company he is still contracted to. An explanation was offered by the show's mastermind and presenter Geoff Keighley after Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain won Best Action/Adventure Game.

"As you noticed, Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I wanted to tell you a little bit about that," Keighly said (you can watch this in the video embedded below). "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."

"He's still 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 and his fellow teammates," Keighley said. "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."

In tribute to the man (who hasn't died by the way, he's just stopped making MGS games it seems) Stefanie Joosten then performed Quiet's Theme from The Phantom Pain with a choir.

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