Konamiis one of the biggest and most well-known video game publishers in the world, and it owns some of the most iconic and genre defining titles in all of gaming. Despite this,Konami’s relationship with players has been rather strained since 2015 after its prolonged ousting ofMetal Gear Solidcreator, Hideo Kojima, followed by the company’s shift in focus away from major AAA games publishing and into mobile games and slot machines.
What frustrates fans most about Konami’s current business focus is that it has left some of the most iconic video game franchises ever sitting dormant for years. However, there have been rumors circulating recently thatnew games from iconic Konami franchises likeSilent Hillcould be in development.
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If these rumors turn out to be true, then it could prove to be the beginning of a return ofa more traditional console video game focus for Konami. Another hopeful indicator of this is that Konami recently announced the development of a new console title. Konami is now partnering with the World Baseball and Softball Confederation to make a new baseball game, with both companies placing heavy emphasis on the game’s possible use as a competitive esports series.
The inspiration for the partnership seems to have come from the success ofan Olympic virtual event that Konami and MBSC helped to run in 2021, and which used Konami’s Japan exclusive gameeBaseball: Powerful Pro Baseball 2020for its events. Both companies now hope that a new game partnership could allow them to expand this style of virtual event into to a “global esports initiative” with a much larger audience. The game used for the 2021 Olympic virtual event,eBaseball: Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, is an extremely cartoony baseball game that is a rebranded continuation of Konami’s long-runningMLB Power Prosseries.
It is unknown yet whether Konami’s next baseball game will be a continuation of this cartoonyeBaseballseries, only rebranded once again to include MBSC teams and players, or if it will be a totally new series with a more realistic style to better appeal to a worldwide audience. The current most popular baseball game on the market is the Sony published and Major League Baseball licensed series,MLB The Show, which strives for the most realistic graphics and physics possible.
Konami has seen success before with its realisticPro Evolution Soccerseries, even up against EA’s more popular licensedFIFAgames. However, thePESseries has also recently been rebranded into the free-to-play titleeSoccer, andeSoccer 2022went on to become the worst reviewed game ever on Steam, so while it is reassuring that Konami is still making console titles, perhaps the company isn’t quite ready to compete for the title of foremost baseball video game publisher.
