Akio Otsuka, the man behind the Japanese voice of Solid Snake, wants a new Metal Gear game — but he won’t do one without Hideo Kojima. And he says he can’t take back what he previously said on the matter.
In an interview with Bunshun, translated by IGN, Otsuka reflected on his long history with the series. He remains attached to the role and wants Konami to make another entry. But his earlier statement still stands: he won’t perform in a Metal Gear game that doesn’t involve Kojima.
“I don’t want to do a Metal Gear that doesn’t involve Kojima,” Otsuka said. “Now I’ve said that, I can’t take it back.”
The Line That Split Fans
Otsuka’s refusal to appear in a Metal Gear game without Kojima is well known among Japanese fans. After Kojima left Konami, Otsuka famously said he wouldn’t participate in a game that didn’t include the creator.
That quote spread across Japanese fandom. Now, as Konami appears to be considering new entries in the series, the question has come up again.
When asked whether Otsuka had told Kojima that he’d like the Death Stranding director to make a new Metal Gear game, Otsuka replied: “I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
A Father, a Son, and a Motion Capture Suit
Otsuka’s interview is full of small, human details. He recalled how his real-life father, voice actor Chikao Otsuka, voiced Big Boss in MGS4’s finale — while Akio himself provided the performance capture.
“When I arrived on set, my father’s eyes widened at the sight of me in the motion capture suit, and he asked with surprise, ‘Am I actually going to be voicing you?’ It was rather amusing,” he said.
He also remembered how Solid Snake’s famous “Kept you waiting, huh?” line — “mataseta na” in Japanese — was an adlib during the recording. The line later appeared in ads, and David Hayter’s English rendition became equally iconic.
The Bond With Kojima
Throughout the interview, Otsuka expressed deep fondness for Kojima. He spoke warmly of the creator’s work on Death Stranding, noting how difficult Kojima’s departure from Konami had been.
“He went through so many difficulties after leaving Konami yet managed to finish making this major game,” Otsuka said, referring to Death Stranding. “After all, if Death Stranding had failed he could have easily ended up with debts that he wouldn’t have been able to pay off even if he continued working for the rest of his life… So when the game was finished and they announced its release, I burst into tears.”
The Fans Caught in the Middle
Otsuka has also spoken up for former members of Kojima’s team who remained at Konami. On his Nameless Mouse podcast in June 2023, he emphasized that fans should not treat those staff as villains.
“I want the fans to understand this. I don’t want them [the remaining MGS staff at Konami] to be made out to be villains. The people who stayed at Konami were part of the crew on Kojima’s ship. These people, who inherited the director’s legacy, want to protect Metal Gear.”
Just as David Hayter is commonly held up by MGS fans as the definitive English voice of Snake — despite his controversial replacement by Kiefer Sutherland in MGS5 — Otsuka’s performance holds similar significance for Japanese fans.
“I certainly have a deep attachment to Snake,” Otsuka concluded. “After all, to the [Japanese] fans, Snake will always be Akio Otsuka, regardless of what happened between Kojima and Konami. When I think of the fans… well I’m really caught in the middle.”
What Happens Next
Konami has shown an interest in Metal Gear, and speculation runs high that an all-new entry could follow. Last year’s successful Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater reused Otsuka’s original performance from 2006’s MGS3.
Whether that happens depends on Konami’s plans and whether Otsuka’s position shifts.
| Who | Role | Position on New Metal Gear |
|---|---|---|
| Akio Otsuka | Japanese voice and motion capture actor | Wants a new game, but won’t do one without Kojima |
| Hideo Kojima | Creator | Currently working on O.D. and Physint |
| Konami | Publisher | Speculated to show interest in the series |
For now, Otsuka is caught in the middle. He wants a new game, but he won’t appear in one without Kojima involved. And he says he can’t take back what he previously said.
The fans, meanwhile, will keep waiting.
Source material: “Legendary Japanese Solid Snake Actor Wants 'New Metal Gear Game', But 'Won't Do One Without Kojima',” IGN.
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