Despite his repeated attempts to move onto pastures new, veteran Japanese game designer has admitted he may yet be persuaded to help out with a fifth Metal Gear game.

Speaking with games site Kikizo, Kojima admitted that he might consider working on Metal Gear in the future. MGS4 was originally billed as the the game maker's farewell to lead-hero Snake; and the series as a whole.

"When we look ten years into the future, maybe yes, I may well end up spending more time on the Metal Gear series," he told the website.

"I always intend to stay true to these statements; I do always say what I actually feel at that time, after each Metal Gear, when I say I am going to move on to the next project. But it’s like when Hayao Miyazaki says he is not going to do more, and then always ends up doing it."

More MGS tittle-tattle as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge