Kojima Productions has "disbanded," according to Solid Snake's Japanese voice actor

The Japanese voice actor for Solid Snake has said work on Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is "nearly complete," forcing the team working on the title at Kojima Productions to disband.

Speaking on Twitter, Akio Otsuka stated he expected the game to be the team's "greatest masterpiece."

“Kojima Productions was forced to disband, but it appears that the work that the team has been putting their utmost effort into is nearly complete,” Otsuka said in a tweet via Gematsu.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say that I expect it will become their greatest masterpiece. I couldn’t help it. I just wanted to say ‘Kept you waiting, huh?’ (Laughs.) But even if this is the end, Metal Gear Solid is immortal!”

Komani have yet to release a statement on the fate of Kojima Productions LA, but back in March the Kojima Productions LA website was redirected to the main Konami website.

Also back in March, reports surfaced stating both Hideo Kojima and his senior staff were working on The Phantom Pain as contractors until their contracts expire in December of this year. In April, Konami announced the cancellation of Kojima and horror director Guillermo Del Toro's Silent Hills project, severing the final ties between it and the Metal Gear Solid creator.

MGS 5: The Phantom Pain is set for release on September 1 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.