Hideo Kojima Denies 1999 The Matrix Game Offer From Wachowskis

After Time Extension’s article with former Konami executive Christopher Bergstresser, news emerged that Hideo Kojima was reportedly approached by the Wachowski sisters to direct a The Matrix video game adaptation – an offer supposedly declined with a simple “no” from Konami.

The idea that the world missed a chance to see a The Matrix game directed by the creator of Metal Gear Solid was devastating to many. Kojima himself addressed the matter following recent reports. Surprisingly, he claims he was never informed of such an offer.

See his statement on social media:

I was surprised to see on social media that the Wachowski sisters offered me a Matrix game project in 1999. Throughout these 26 years, no one ever told me such a conversation occurred. At the time, we were mutual fans and exchanged emails. Matrix hadn’t been released in Japan yet, but I had already seen it in US theaters and at a premiere screening. When the Wachowskis came to Japan for promotion, I believe I met them three times. In the morning, we had a Famitsu interview in Shinjuku—Geof Darrow joined us for the chat session this time. In the afternoon, they were invited to the Konami CS Division headquarters. Back then, I was Vice President of subsidiary KCE JAPAN. When I arrived at HQ, their meeting with Mr. Kitaue, head of CS Division, had just ended. I joined them afterward and we talked for about an hour without an interpreter (Aki wasn’t even there). I believe John Gaeta, the VFX supervisor, was also present.
That evening, I attended the premiere screening and party, where I also met Joel Silver. Still, there was no mention of any offer.

At that time, I was already extremely busy with MGS2 and likely couldn’t have accepted the offer immediately. But if someone had told me, there might have been a way to make it happen.