New job listings at Konami for would-be developers and visionaries to work on the next Metal Gear project echo recent reports that series creator Hideo Kojima is leaving the studio after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

After the Internet has been up in arms about the multiple signals suggesting Hideo Kojima is parting ways with Konami after nearly 30 years of working together, the Japanese publishing and developing company shows it has no sense of timeliness. Less than 24 hours after everyone has been wondering whether or not Kojima would be staying at Konami, the studio posted job listings to hire developers and creative team members to work on the next big Metal Gear project after The Phantom Pain, Kotaku reports.

These Konami job listings are asking for applicants with AAA game development experience, "innovative ideas" and a "rich imagination," which all scream "we don't have Hideo Kojima making Metal Gear games anymore." Kojima's words from his video announcement of The Phantom Pain's release date now have a deeper meaning:

 In that sense, this will be the final Metal Gear Solid. Even if the Metal Gear franchise continues, to me, this is the last Metal Gear.

Konami representatives had the following to say about Hideo Kojima's possible departure from the studio:

The latest entry in the series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, will be released with Hideo Kojima as originally announced on September 1, 2015 in North America, Central and South America and Europe as well as on September 2 in Japan and elsewhere in Asia.

After the release of MGSV: TPP, Konami plans to also continue releasing titles in the Metal Gear series. We would like to offer our deep gratitude for your continued support of the Metal Gear series.

For those who don't know, Kojima Productions is in the possible process of being dismantled and rebranded by Konami. Its Japanese website is gone and now redirects to the official Metal Gear Solid page. Its Twitter, @Kojima_Pro_Live, is no longer the official Metal Gear account, which is now @MetalGear_En. Likewise, the series' longtime label of "A Hideo Kojima Game" has been removed from all the current Metal Gear products on the official website which all used to bear the title just a few days ago. With Kojima Productions' name changing to Konami Los Angeles, Konami's recent statements do nothing but remind us that they're going to keep the Metal Gear franchise going once Hideo Kojima parts ways with the company, which now seems likely to happen by the end of the year.

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