Hideo Kojima has apparently been embroiled in a slow-moving on-line controversy for the previous week and is now making an attempt to definitively extricate himself and his studio from the continuing backlash. “In light of certain misunderstandings that have arisen in some media reports and on social networks, we would like to take this opportunity to accurately convey the facts,” his studio introduced on social media on Wednesday.
The Death Stranding 2 director shared a photograph on-line earlier this month wherein he appeared on the Lucca Comics & Video games conference in Italy alongside writer and cartoonist Michele “Zerocalcare” Rech. Kojima was holding a Japanese copy of Kobane Calling, a 2015 graphic novel which illustrates the struggles of a city alongside the Turkish-Syrian border underneath risk from ISIS. Rech additionally not too long ago printed one other graphic novel referred to as No Sleep until Shengal concerning the persecution of the Yazidis.
However shortly after it was printed on his social media channel, Kojima, well-known for posting photo ops with the folks he meets, deleted the picture.
Kojima was seemingly spurred to erase proof of the assembly because of an internet backlash surrounding Rech’s political opinions. Kobane Calling reportedly expresses sympathy for Syrian Kurdish YPG militia forces which, sure, fought towards ISIS, however YPG can also be accused by some international groups of recruiting little one troopers and is classed by Turkey and different nations as a terrorist group (the U.S. doesn’t think about it a terrorist group, though it’s affiliated with the Kurdistan Staff’ Occasion (PKK) which the U.S. does classify as one). The plight of kid troopers was additionally a frequent theme all through the Steel Gear collection.
Disappointing backpedaling. Kobane Calling is is a firsthand account of the Kurdish resistance towards ISIS throughout the Syrian struggle; Zero actually traveled to a struggle zone to doc it. It is solely controversial in case you suppose ISIS had been the nice guys in that situation. https://t.co/N6G7KFGw3p pic.twitter.com/HwD73b8b2j
— bidonica ❗ (@bidonica1) November 12, 2025
Rech seen and launched his own video concerning the incident utilizing comedian illustrations. Calling Kojima the “Jesus Christ of video games,” the cartoonist mentioned it was his writer’s concept to share a replica of Kobane Calling with the famed sport developer, who then voluntarily held it up for the picture op, in keeping with a report by Italian outlet Fatto Quotidiano.
“I opened the internet and saw two hundred Turkish sites saying that Kojima had published a post in favor of terrorism,” Rech mentioned within the video printed over per week in the past, in keeping with a Google translation. “Of course, for the Turks, they’re all terrorists, and now they’re harassing poor Kojima.”
Per week later, Kojima Productions lastly addressed the incident with an announcement throwing Rech underneath the bus. “There is no personal or professional relationship between the two individuals,” it declared. “The photo was taken briefly at the Lucca Comics & Games venue after a short introduction through an acquaintance.”
The studio continued, “Neither Mr. Kojima nor KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS had any prior knowledge or understanding of Mr. Zerocalcare’s works or political positions, and there was no intention to express agreement with, or support for, any particular stance or opinion.”
The assertion exudes a stunning quantity of Ubisoft “let’s not get political” vitality from the group behind a current set of very political PlayStation blockbusters.
