Hideo Kojima’s Physint is moving from PlayStation to XBOX after Sony canceled its involvement with the action-espionage project, according to a report from Variety.
Variety reports that Microsoft’s XBOX will now serve as the publishing partner for Physint, expanding its existing relationship with Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions. The studio is already working with XBOX on its upcoming horror game, OD.
The move comes after Physint was originally announced as a collaboration between Kojima Productions and PlayStation. According to a statement from Kojima cited by Variety, PlayStation Studios informed the developer in mid-June that it would cancel the project.
Kojima Productions, however, wanted to keep Physint alive.
Kojima said the studio spent the following three months searching for a new partner, eventually finding one in XBOX after discussions with people across several fields.
“Determined to keep the project alive, we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner,” Kojima said.
Kojima confirmed that development on Physint is continuing, describing it as the studio’s “genre-defining action-espionage title.”
PlayStation also addressed its decision to leave the project. In a statement cited by Variety, the company said it had made the “difficult decision” to step away from its collaboration with Kojima Productions on Physint after careful consideration.
Despite the cancellation, PlayStation said it continues to have “great admiration” for Kojima’s vision and intends to maintain its relationship with Kojima and his independent studio.
XBOX and Kojima Productions Expand Their Partnership
Physint will become another major collaboration between XBOX and Kojima Productions alongside OD, the upcoming horror project being developed in collaboration with filmmaker Jordan Peele.
Variety reports that discussions between XBOX and Kojima had been taking place for months, including meetings with XBOX CEO Asha Sharma about Kojima’s creative plans and potential opportunities beyond games.
“Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life,” Sharma said in a statement cited by Variety. “We’re honored that Kojima-san has chosen XBOX to work with Kojima Productions on ‘Physint.’”
The expanded relationship will also extend into film and television, with XBOX and Kojima Productions planning to collaborate on new stories for broader audiences. No specific film or TV projects were announced.
Kojima said the new agreement expands the studio’s relationship with XBOX beyond OD while reaffirming its plans for Physint.
“As we move forward with the development of ‘Physint,’ we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world,” Kojima said.
No release date or additional gameplay details for Physint were announced.
For now, the significant development is that the project is still alive: after PlayStation decided to walk away, Kojima Productions has found a new publishing partner in XBOX, with development on Physint continuing under the expanded partnership.
