25 years ago, Matrix creators and directors the Wachowskis met up with Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima to ask him and his team to create a video game based on the blockbuster sci-fi action film starring Keanu Reeves. Apparently, Kojima was very interested in doing it, but higher-ups at Konami passed.
In a recent interview with Time Extension, former Konami Digital Entertainment vice president of licensing Christopher Bergstresser talked about the long-rumored tale that Kojima was asked to make a Matrix game in 2000. It seemed like it was probably true, and details about it were floating around online, but the specifics were always a mystery. But not anymore, as Bergstresser talked openly about the meeting with Time Extension.
“The Wachowskis were big fans of Kojima,” Bergstresser told the outlet. “So (Konami producer) Kazumi Kitaue, [Hideo] Kojima, Aki Saito (who still works with Kojima), and I were at the Konami HQ, and we got a call from the Wachowskis, who wanted to come in and meet with Kojima. So they did! The two of them came in with their concept artist, and effectively they said to Kojima, ‘We really want you to do the Matrix game. Can you do that?’”
According to Bergstresser, this question was translated for Kitaue, and his response was a blunt “No.” This was likely because Konami wanted Kojima to focus on making Metal Gear Solid 2, which was in the early stages of production. While this might have been disappointing for the Wachowskis, they didn’t have any hard feelings and still invited the group to The Matrix’s launch party in Japan.
Before this interview, there was evidence of this meeting, as Time Extension points out. But this is the first time we’ve really heard anything about it directly from someone who was there. The outlet does claim, however, that a different Konami employee told them that this story isn’t entirely accurate. Reportedly, Kojima still showed a “strong interest” in making a Matrix game even after Kitaue shut it down, and many members of the MGS creator’s team were filled with “immense disappointment” after missing out on such an opportunity.
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