Kojima Wasn’t Legally Allowed at Game Awards

Geoff Keighley Was "Disappointed"

By Bryan Smith on December 3, 2015 at 11:18pm

During The Game Awards, Kiefer Sutherland accepted the award for Best Action Adventure Game for "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain" as Hideo Kojima wasn't legally allowed to attended the ceremony (image used is from Kotaku)

Kiefer Sutherland was there to accept the award, who was received by a booing audience (poor guy. For the record, Sutherland is not at fault whatsoever here, but caught in a hard place between Konami and the public). Geoff Keighley actually commented on Kojima's absence.

As you noticed, Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I want to tell you a little about that. 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 awards ceremony to accept any awards. [crowd boos] 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.

Kojima was also absent for the PlayStation Award ceremony, where a Konami PR representative accepted the award.