Despite statements from Metal Gear franchise publisher Konami, the Japanese voice actor for Solid Snake recently stated that Kojima Productions has been disbanded.

According to Japanese voice actor Akio Otsuka, Kojima Productions was recently dissolved by Konami. A rough translation of a Tweet from Otsuka states that “Kojima Productions got dissolved, and due to the team’s hard effort, the game is just about finished”:

Kotaku provided MGS fans with a loose translation of Otsuka’s Tweets, as stated below:

“Kojima Productions got dissolved, and due to the team’s hard effort, the game is just about finished. This is no exaggeration, but it’s bound to be a supreme masterpiece! I can’t help it if I want to say, ‘I kept you waiting.’ (lol) Even if this is the last time… MGS lives forever!”

Akio Otsuka portrays the voice of Solid/Naked/Old Snake in every Metal Gear Solid title, and the Super Smash Bros. Brawl incarnation of Snake; he also voiced a Japanese-exclusive DLC weapon for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Otsuka has contributed to several other franchises including  Kingdom Hearts, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Onimusha and Yakuza.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will release on 9/1 for PC, Xbox One, PS4, 360 and PS3.

Sources: Twitter, Kotaku
Image courtesy of Kojima Productions, Konami