Hideo Kojima’s new espionage game, Physint, will no longer be published by PlayStation Studios after Sony decided to leave the project in June; Kojima Productions announced on Thursday, October 10, that development will continue in partnership with Xbox.
Kojima says Sony ended the collaboration
In a statement posted on social media, Kojima said he was informed unexpectedly in mid-June that PlayStation would end its involvement. After receiving the news, Kojima Productions spent three months searching for a new partner to prevent the game from being canceled.
“Physint is an important project both to me personally and to Kojima Productions.”
The studio negotiated with several companies during that period and ultimately reached an agreement with Xbox, with which Kojima Productions already collaborates on the horror title OD, still in development. Kojima said the two companies share a similar vision for Physint and confirmed that development on the game continues.
PlayStation acknowledges decision to step away
PlayStation Studios issued its own statement confirming it had decided to “step away” from the collaboration with Kojima Productions, describing the choice as “difficult.” The company did not provide reasons for the decision.
Despite withdrawing from Physint, PlayStation said it still admires Kojima’s vision for the game and that its relationship with the developer remains strong after about three decades of collaboration. PlayStation’s exit does not necessarily signal the end of its overall ties with Kojima Productions.
Xbox gains a second Kojima project
The move strengthens Kojima Productions’ relationship with Microsoft. Asha Sharma, head of Xbox, called the deal “a big moment for Xbox” and said the company is honored to have been chosen to work on the title.
With this agreement, Kojima now has two projects in collaboration with Microsoft’s gaming division: OD and Physint.
What is known about Physint’s design and timeline
Announced in 2024 as a new intellectual property, Physint is described as a next-generation action and espionage game. Kojima has said his experience with espionage games provides a familiar foundation for the project, but he intends to avoid repeating past work in the genre.
The plan includes introducing new gameplay mechanics and bringing video game and cinema languages closer together, with involvement from actors and film industry professionals behind the scenes.
There is currently no release date for Physint. Kojima Productions and Xbox have not provided details on platform plans or whether the change in publishing partner will affect the project’s schedule.
Return to espionage after Metal Gear
Physint marks Kojima’s return to the espionage genre that defined much of his career; he created Metal Gear and led that series for decades before leaving Konami and founding Kojima Productions as an independent studio. This time, however, Physint is a wholly new intellectual property.
What is confirmed is that the game survived PlayStation Studios’ decision to withdraw. After three months seeking a new home, Kojima found a partner in a direct competitor to Sony that will keep his new espionage project in development.
