In a recent Facebook post, translated by Kotaku, former Square Enix president Yoichi Wada has branded Konami’s treatment of Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima “cruel.”
Kojima, who parted ways with Konami on October 9, has seemingly been banned by the publisher from attending public events relating to The Phantom Pain, such as this year’s Game Awards.
Relations between Konami and Kojima soured over the course of 2015, with the publisher throwing Silent Hills on the scrap heap back in April and then stripping Kojima’s name from Metal Gear Solid V advertisements and even the game’s box art.
According to Wada, who stepped down as president of Square in 2013, Konami’s treatment of Kojima isn’t just cruel, it’s also very bad for business.
“As I know Mr. Kojima, I want to say, I can’t believe this cruel treatment. But, here I’m going to give my thoughts as a corporate exec,” Wada wrote on Facebook.
“However you think about this, this is a negative for business.
“Maybe leaving the home console market is management’s plan, but going out of your way to make enemies with the world has no meaning.”
Wada goes on to suggest that Konami’s poor handling of Kojima’s departure could stem from a lack of leadership.
“Generally, this kind of thing happens when there’s a lack of leadership. I think, perhaps, there isn’t someone in charge who is paying attention and laying out all the little details for whole enterprise,” continues Wada.
“When you are not aware that the feelings of your own department aren’t aligned with the world at large, the results can be deplorable.”