Konami’s E3 Press Conference is coming up in a week and the hype for Kojima’s announcement has been building up for a while now.

Rumors have been circulating for sometime now that the next MGS game would feature the character of Raiden, now that Solid Snake’s story has drawn to a close.

He'll be back!

And now, adding fuel to the fire, Famitsu magazine has released an interview with Kojima, heavily censored of course to exclude anything Kojima’s planning to release next week. In the interview, Kojima confirms that he is once again directing the project, despite his claim that he would be stepping down from that position after Metal Gear Solid 4. I guess the appeal of the series is too much for Kojima himself to resist.

It's times like these I wish I spoke Japanese.

Aside from the screenshot of Big Boss that we’ve been seeing, though the article hints that it may not be Big Boss after all, a screen shot of the countdown clock with a picture of a Cyborg Ninja resembling Raiden is shown. However, unless the new game winds up being a prequel, Raiden appearing as a Cyborg Ninja doesn’t make all that much sense, given the events of Guns of the Patriots.

Despite all statements to the contrary, yes...that's a guy.

However, who’s to say that this next Metal Gear game is even related to the story told in the original series. While I would personally love to see a new Metal Gear game, I can’t really see what else can be explored in the MGS universe that hasn’t already been explored.

The interview has definitely brought up more questions than answers, especially on the eve of one of the biggest gaming events of the year. When Konami holds their E3 Press Conference next Wednesday at 3PM, we’ll be there to bring you the updates. Until then, here’s a transcript of that Famitsu interview. Enjoy!

Hamamura: XXXXXXXXX’s XXXXXX?
Kojima: But, XXXXXXXXX. It’s XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
Hamamura: Ah! I get it!!
Kojima: “XXXXX XXXXX XXX”. Well, it’s not “X”, but a “X” kind of feeling. That’s him. I can’t say the title yet, but it’s this kind of feeling. But it’s the Metal Gear saga’s tradition.
Hamamura: The time period is XXX?
Kojima: No, it’s XXX. I’m saying everything, maybe XXXXX. I’m designing and directing all of this game.
Hamamura: Wha!
Kojima: I think the focus will be domestic, and we’re launching it globally. For me, this is like “XXXX”. I won’t say “X”, but a solid story has been created, and the MGS4 staff is making it.
Hamamura: Wow! That’s great.

Kojima: This time, only the image of this guy (meaning Big Boss) will appear. Then lighting. Just this appearing, I wan everyone to guess. This is how XX’s will be appearing.
Hamamura: This…is Big Boss?
Kojima: XX’s way of appearing is slightly different.
Hamamura: Eh? Different…?

Kojima: The emblem on this guy’s hat is important.
Hamamura: The emblem isn’t a fox. There’s like a world map thing drawn.
Kojima: It’s not only an emblem, but for the game, it will be a new type of system.
Hamamura: Is it XX-XXXXXXXXXX?
Kojima: Yes. You’ll while XXXXXXX. XXXX, etc. are a given, so they’ll be included. Ooops, I’ve said more than I was planning to. (laughs)
Hamamura: Hahahahaha! Well XXXXXX, it’s XXXXXXX? Also, where’s the game going to be set?
Kojima: The place is XXXXXXX. XXXXXXXXX happened, and it’s a XXXXX type of country. There isn’t XXXXXXXX in the country, but they do have XX like things and XXXX. At that time, XXXXXX come to where the guy is.

Kojima: The theme is XX. XXXXX kinda thing or XXX theme, or XXXXXXXXXXXX, or why is there X, that’s where we’re drawing. Maybe everyone is probably thinking, “This sermon again!” Maybe this sermon will become a genre. (laughs)
Hamamura: Ahahahaha!
Kojima: This is quite a deep interview.
Hamamura: So true!

[Source]