Konamihasn’t exactly been in gamer’s best books recently, after a series of questionable decisions and even more upsetting business moves for fans. Whether it was theMetal Gear Solidpachinko machinesor the now infamous debacle of Hideo Kojima parting ways with Konami, it seemed like there was no shortage of drama and controversy as the years went on. Just as it seemed like the company had completely lost its way, rumors have begun making the rounds of a newSilent Hillgame, and even a remake of the originalMetal Gear Solid.
While all of this speculation should be taken with a grain of salt, after years of poor decisions, these rumors are at least a hopeful hint thatKonamiis back on track. Although initially confirming its involvement at the event, Konami has left E3 2021 for unknown reasons, to make announcements at a later time. To have even accepted to participate in the first place however implies that the company must have had something in the works to show off to the masses, and there are a number of likely options to choose from.
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New Silent Hill
With rumors of a new game persistently appearing for the last few years now, it seems like a foregone conclusion that a newSilent Hillgame may be a matter of “when” and not “if.” One or two rumors could be easily disregarded, but with the amount of hints at a new installment truly beginning to pile up, there must be some legitimacy to all of this. The series was in the process of a revival back in 2014 withHideo Kojima’sSilent Hills, which was unceremoniously cancelled by Konami not long after. The sting of that never truly healed for gamers, and the desire for a newSilent Hillexperience has been clamored for ever since, something which Konami has surely noticed.
Metal Gear Solid Remake
TheMetal Gear Solidfranchise is another beloved Konami IP that the company has shown a lack of care for in recent years. Although one of the most anticipated games leading up to its release,Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantomhad a lot of tension behind the scenes between Kojima and Konami. After this,Metal Gear Survivewas universally panned for being a misstep in the usual top tier quality these games bring to the table.
Hope remains for things to turn around however, as there have been rumblings thatBluepoint will remake the originalMetal Gear Solidfor the PlayStation 5. Bluepoint have proven themselves withShadow of the ColossusandDemon’s Souls, so a new look and starting fresh may be just whatMetal Gear Solidneeds right now.
Castlevania Reboot
Beginning way back on the NES in the mid 1980’s, theCastlevaniaseries has become an icon in the action adventure genre and inspired many other games after it.Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2was released way back in 2014, and the only other release was a mobile title in 2019 calledCastlevania: Grimoire of Night, so this franchise has been silent for quite some time. The animatedCastlevaniaNetflix seriesis entering its fourth season, so the brand is still alive and well in public consciousness. This continued relevance may mean PlayStation players are in for a treat, as there’s been reports of a newCastlevaniagame being made by Sony/Konami.
Everything In Between
With the ‘big three’ mentioned above, there are still many other possibilities for what the company could dive into for future releases. Konami is home to some of the most celebrated and beloved video game franchises of all time, including the blazing fast action ofContraand the brain bending strategy of theBombermanseries. Simply put, there is no shortage of options for Konami to choose from, and with many of these iconic IP’s having been dormant for many years, fans would welcome a new installment for any of these examples with open arms.
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