In a heartfelt tribute at the DICE Summit 2026 in Las Vegas, legendary game designer Hideo Kojima disclosed that he and industry veteran Vince Zampella once explored the idea of creating a first-person shooter adaptation of the iconic Metal Gear series. This conversation reportedly took place shortly after the release of Metal Gear Solid 4.
Kojima shared this previously undisclosed detail through a pre-recorded video message during the conference's keynote speeches, which honored Zampella following his untimely passing in December at age 55. The event featured reflections from notable figures like Phil Spencer, Geoff Keighley, Todd Howard, and Laura Miele, who all celebrated Zampella's profound impact on gaming and their personal connections with him.
During his segment, Kojima revealed, 'I've kept this quiet for a long time, but after Metal Gear Solid 4 launched, we actually discussed making an FPS version of Metal Gear.' He noted that while the project never materialized, their dialogue continued to influence him. Zampella, who went on to establish Respawn Entertainment, offered Kojima valuable guidance and support after his departure from Konami. Kojima even integrated some insights from Respawn's practices into his own studio, Kojima Productions.
Zampella's sudden death sent shockwaves through the gaming community, as he was widely admired for his extensive career spanning multiple studios and groundbreaking projects. Beyond co-creating Call of Duty and founding Infinity Ward, he launched Respawn Entertainment, which produced hits like Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. His final contribution was as director of the recently released Battlefield 6.
Earlier coverage from DICE highlighted additional tributes from peers like Keighley and Spencer. Kojima concluded his remarks by urging others to 'look to Vince as a model and aim high,' underscoring Zampella's enduring legacy in the industry.
