Metal Gear Online is making a return in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, and despite it being a large success in Japan with earlier iterations, Kojima reveals why they decided to move the development over to their Los Angeles studio.

Fans in Japan have criticized MGO development, stating that it should be developed in their own country. Kojima responded by stating that, earlier, the game was a success, but not so much outside of Japan. The online mode in MGS4 never “blew up” like in Japan, thus the reason why, this time around, the Online mode is being made in America. Still, it will have key members from the Japanese studio.

“Metal Gear Online was a very successful online game in Japan,” said Kojima to IGN. “But worldwide it wasn’t necessarily a success….several core members of our studio in Tokyo that were involved in the development of Metal Gear Online are working hand in hand together with Japan and LA.”

The team is working hard on the game’s multiplayer component, ensuring that it’s an “online mode everyone will be able to enjoy whether they’re in other continents or Japan”.

Metal Gear Online is set to launch with Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, which currently has no release date. The Prologue of the game, Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes, will be launch on March 11th without an online mode.