Kojima: Games Will Not Be Tied To Platforms In 'Near Future'

Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima told reporters in Tokyo this week that he expects traditional video game consoles will soon be extinct, according to Reuters. "In the near future, we'll have games that don't depend on any platform," Kojima said during a news conference for the upcoming Sony PSP game, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Waker. Kojima has built his career by creating games for consoles, from the NES to the PlayStation 3. He added, "Gamers should be able to take the experience with them in their living rooms, on the go, when they travel -- wherever they are and whenever they want to play. It should be the same software and the same experience." Sony Computer Entertainment Japan president Hiroshi Kawano was reportedly caught off guard by Kojima's remark. "It's a bold prediction," Kawano said. "We hope he continues to develop for platforms, but we deeply respect his sense of taking on a challenge." Kojima's comments come as new technology for streaming video games to PCs and televisions is beginning to emerge. OnLive and Gaikai are readying to launch, and promise gaming on a "cloud" that doesn't require the user to bear the burden of additional expensive hardware. Even while Microsoft and Sony are deeply rooted in the console business, they're continuously developing their respective Live and PlayStation Network systems, which are beginning to deliver content to platforms other than console, such as PC, mobile and handhelds.