We already know that he has Yoji Shinkawa, the Art Director, working with him, along with Ken-Ishiro Imaizumi, the Producer; personal assistant Ayako Terashima; and Shinji Hirano, the former President of Konami Europe.

But it looks like that’s not all, either. Apparently, Kojima also has Masaki Saito and Jackie Tan, formerly game designers at Konami, working at his new studio. He’s also managed to get Yasuhiro Kawakami, cinematic artist at Konami, working at the new Kojima Productions. Chihoko Uchiyama, who was the senior character designer at Konami, has also been recruited by Kojima. And in what is probably Kojima’s biggest coup, he has Akio Sakamoto, the man who designed the core of the FOX Engine, working with him at the new Kojima Productions, too.

Full article - http://gamingbolt.com/death-stranding-it-seems-that-kojima-is-fultoning-everyone-from-konami-to-kojima-productions

It seems like Death Stranding is in very capable hands! Are you looking forward to another Kojima masterpiece?

Well its not like they make games at Konami anymore, so...

I am looking forward to Death Stranding.

Are there any estimates to how big the studio is at this point?

Sounds like the studio is coming along well regardless. I would love to see gameplay at this year's PSX

Good. Anything Kojima does im interested. He is guaranteed quality. And the fact that former Konami employees and deparment directors want to work with him speaks volumes about his leadership.

I'm sure Konami wasn't the best to those guys, either. What better way to get back at them than to go work with the guy they fucked over the most. I'm sure they know each other, as well, so probably get along well.

Not really surprising, is a lot like Playtonic with ex-Rare members :p

more extreme though, Playtonic only had like 10 people a year ago (although I'm sure they've hired on more). Kojima already had his own fairly large team working at Konami under Kojima Productions. That coupled with the game designers who were working for Konami directly who appear to have jumped ship....

Konami's game staff has got to be looking skeletal at this point in terms of numbers. Also they probably have somewhat screwed themselves, none of the most talented software designers are going to want to work at Konami after all of the terrible PR about how they treat their employees. Kojima and crew were the remaining lifebood of the gaming division of that company 

Good.

I want to see how Kojima does when he's the top dog, and can't pass the buck on his budget busting.

Jim Sterling F@#k Konami news segment incoming!