"It'll be hard not being involved in MGS5, but I've got the utmost confidence that Hideo Kojima, Ken Imaizumi, and our amazing team will put together another blockbuster game," Payton told Kotaku in an interview regarding his departure.

In addition to handling the studio's podcast, Payton served as a producer for Metal Gear Solid: Portal Ops (PSP) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3).

Meanwhile, series creator Hideo Kojima expressed his thoughts on multiplatform development and noted his frustration with constant inquiries regarding the oft-rumored possibility of Metal Gear Solid 4 on Xbox 360.

"Because MGS4 was optimized for the PS3 it is probably not possible [on Xbox 360]," he explained to Eurogamer, citing media and technology differences.

"If the hardware technology rises then obviously, you know, [my future games] won't be based on the hardware anymore," Kojima noted. "Probably I will first create the software and then, um, it's a strange word to say, but port to other hardware if that technological ability rises in all areas."

"What kind of disturbs me sometimes, because a lot of people ask me about this PS3/360 question, is that it's not about the hardware," he concluded. "I want people to look at the game itself. Sometimes I even feel like it should be on a PC so that people don't ask me about hardware and platforms."