Konami Registers Big Boss Pachinko Trademark

Konami has filed a trademark for "Big Boss" pachinko, indicating the new machine will feature the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain protagonist. The trademark, which was discovered by Siliconera, covers games, trading cards, slot machines, pachinko, and board games.

The trademark was filed by Konami Pachinko Entertainment, an arm of the company that deals specifically with the popular Japanese pinball machines.

Konami's commitment to console game development has been the subject of debate recently, although the publishr has insisted there is no debate to be had.

In May 2015, Konami president Hideki Hayakawa said Konami will "pursue mobile games aggressively" going forward, and that smartphones will be considered as its "main platform."

"Our main platforms will be mobiles," he began. "Gaming has spread to a number of platforms, but at the end of the day, the platform that is always closest to us, is mobile. Mobile is where the future of gaming lies. With multiplatform games, there's really no point in dividing the market into categories anymore. Mobiles will take on the new role of linking the general public to the gaming world."

The statements were taken as evidence the publisher was backing away from the console gaming, but Konami followed-up and released a statement reaffirming its commitment to console games, adding it is interested in producing content for all the platforms available to it, including consoles.

"Konami will continue to embrace the challenge of creating entertainment content via different platforms," it said. "Not only mobile platforms, but for home consoles, arcade units, and cards, to meet the changing needs of the times."

In September 2015, it was reports stated Konami has ceased development of all triple-A console game projects, with the exception Pro Evolution Soccer. This, however, was not confirmed in any way by the company and seems to be in contrast with previous statements saying it has started the hiring process for a new Metal Gear game.

In March 2015, Konami said it is conducting "auditions for main staff to lead the development," of a new Metal Gear project and has asked interested developers to get in touch.