Sub-headline: After 25 years, maybe he's ready to let go.

"Hideo Kojima may be preparing to move on from his Metal Gear Solid franchise following the release of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

"The only thing I can say for certain is that I personally will not be able to carry MGS forward for another 25 years," Kojima told Xbox Wire. "However, with new talent at the helm guiding the series through each new stage, I can easily imagine a world 25 years from now where a new MGS franchise continues onward into the future."

Kojima has previously expressed that spinoffs akin to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance were possible without him.

Additioinally, Kojima clarified his ambitions for The Phantom Pain's open world. "The open world elements exist to remove the rails from the stealth experience, allowing players to freely plan their own routes and experiment with their own unique infiltration strategies. However, at its heart, the gameplay is all about stealth and we don't intend to shift the focus away from that."

The Phantom Pain's introductory chapter, which Kojima describes as a "tutorial," will release on March 18, 2014."

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/09/kojima-cant-carry-mgs-forward-for-another-25-years?abthid=52a60ddd7b4327ff61000027

Lock if re-posted.

i hate the fact that all these awesome Legendary devs aren't gonna live forever.
i fear the day the worst will happen, Miyamoto will resign ):

Rising turned out to be great so I have high hopes for the future of the series. I hope in the meantime Kojima goes back and work on some other projects like Policenauts.

Well that's a given. The poor guy can't live forever.

I hope i still like video games in 25 years :S

I pray Miyamoto wont resign amytime soon.
For me Miyamoto will always be the greatest hero far above everyone, like a god.

Anyway im probably the only one that liked kojimas snatcher more than Metal gear.

I'm hoping Kojima brings back Solid Snake one more time. Not holding my breath for it though.

I like playing as Solid Snake more than playing Big Boss in the prequels.

Well, Bond has been around for 50+ years, so I can see Snake going on after Kojima moves on from him. It would be weird though.

Konami aren't going to let you retire for any reason other than death though, Kojima. You're pretty much the only good thing they have left.

Make more real MGS games, all the demos Ive seen from V looks like a generic 3rd person shooter.

They really should have wrapped up the series after 4 IMO.