Konami Announces Name Change As Company Celebrates 50th Anniversary

A lot of people really like to go wild when they turn 50. Some book skydiving lessons. Others go on a week-long bender in Magaluf. Others hop into the passenger seat of their 22-year-old girlfriend's new Porsche and never look back. Miss you, dad.

Metal Gear Solid publisher and Pachinko peddler Konami is taking a different approach. To celebrate its upcoming 50th anniversary, it's decided to change its name!

What, I hear you ask, might Konami rebrand itself as? Konami Ultra? Konami Mega Corp? Harold? Nothing as exciting as that, I'm afraid.

It turns out that Konami Holdings Corporation wants to become... Konami Group Corporation. Talk about walking on the wild side.

It's worth pointing out that this name change will only go through as long as shareholders approve the daring move. Assuming it is, expect the change to take effect from July 1. At which point we will continue to call Konami exactly what we've called it for the last half a century.

Konami said in a statement: “Since its establishment, the Company has expanded its business as a pioneer in the Japanese entertainment industry and now operates in four business segments: Digital Entertainment, Amusement, Gaming & Systems, and Sports. In marking the Company’s 50th anniversary since its establishment, we will change the trade name so that we, along with its group companies, will continue to take on new challenges and strive for further growth as a sustainable company.”

That's it. That's literally the whole story. I don't know what more I can get out of this for you, really. I appreciate you stopping by though, and I hope you have a lovely weekend. Okay? Okay.