Hideo Kojima's Physint Finds a New Home at Xbox After PlayStation Cancellation

Hideo Kojima’s upcoming action-espionage game Physint has found a new publisher in Xbox, following PlayStation's decision to cancel the project earlier this year. The renowned video game designer and writer revealed that his studio received unexpected notification from PlayStation Studios in mid-June regarding the cancellation of Physint, which forced Kojima Productions to spend the next three months seeking an alternative partner.

As one of the most recognizable creators in the industry, Hideo Kojima is celebrated for creating the Metal Gear series, which popularized stealth gaming and established cinematic storytelling as a core element of his work. Given his long-standing association with PlayStation, Sony's decision to step away from Physint came as a significant surprise.

Xbox has now stepped in to publish the game, further building upon its existing partnership with Kojima Productions, which is also collaborating with Microsoft on the horror title OD. “Physint is an important project both to me personally and to Kojima Productions,” Hideo Kojima stated, noting that the studio was determined to keep the project alive and ultimately found in Xbox “a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future.”

Sony formally acknowledged its departure from the project, stating, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on its project Physint.” The company emphasized that its relationship with Hideo Kojima remains strong following “three decades of industry-leading, genre-defining creative co-operation” and anticipated future collaborations.

Physint represents Hideo Kojima's highly anticipated return to the action-espionage genre since his departure from Konami in 2015, where he originally created Metal Gear and oversaw the influential Metal Gear Solid series. Since establishing Kojima Productions as an independent studio, his primary releases have been the Death Stranding games.

Initially announced during a PlayStation State of Play presentation in January 2024, Physint was described by Hideo Kojima as a next-generation action-espionage title utilizing cutting-edge technology to bridge the gap between games and film. The project resurfaced during Kojima Productions’ 10th-anniversary event in 2025, revealing actors Charlee Fraser, Ma Dong-seok, and Minami Hamabe as part of the cast.

Development on the title is actively continuing under the new publishing agreement. “This expands our relationship with Xbox beyond OD,” Hideo Kojima remarked. Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that the company is honored to support Hideo Kojima's ambitious vision. Additionally, the partnership will extend beyond gaming, with both companies planning future collaborations on film and television projects. Specific platforms and a release date for Physint have not yet been announced.