Kojima prevented from attending The Game Awards, claims host

Hideo Kojima was prevented from attending last night’s Game Awards ceremony due to instructions from lawyers representing Konami, according to the ceremony’s host.

Journalist Geoff Keighley, who also produced the ceremony, said that the highly respected video game designer was told not to attend the night’s event by Konami lawyers.

On camera, shown above, he said: “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.”

The news was not well received from the audience in attendance, who began to boo once Keighley revealed the news.

Reports began surfacing earlier this year of a major fall out between Konami and Kojima Productions – Kojima’s own production company – and sources claimed Kojima would leave Konami come the end of the year.

Konami have previously insisted that Kojima hasn’t left the company and is simply “on vacation”.

We’ve reached out to Konami for comment – so far, no word back.