Hideo Kojima to publish Physint on Xbox
Hideo Kojima’s upcoming action-espionage game Physint will now be published by Xbox after Microsoft secured a partnership with Kojima Productions, ending its previous association with PlayStation.
Hideo Kojima’s next major action-espionage game Physint is moving to Xbox, with Microsoft confirming it will publish the project after Kojima Productions expanded its partnership with the company.
The announcement marks a major shift for the project, which was originally unveiled as a PlayStation-backed title in 2024 and was widely viewed as a spiritual successor to Kojima’s iconic Metal Gear Solid series.
Microsoft confirmed that Xbox will publish Physint alongside continuing its partnership with Kojima Productions on horror title OD.
The companies also revealed plans to collaborate beyond games, with potential projects spanning film and television.
Kojima said: "This expands our relationship with Xbox beyond OD. As we move forward with the development of Physint, we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world."
Kojima later explained on social media that the future of Physint had been uncertain after PlayStation Studios reportedly decided to cancel the project.
He said Kojima Productions spent months searching for a new partner before finding a shared vision with Xbox.
Kojima wrote: "Determined to keep the project alive, we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner."
The move represents a significant victory for Xbox, which has been attempting to rebuild its reputation around major creative partnerships and exclusive projects under new CEO Asha Sharma.
Sharma said: "We’re honoured that Kojima-san has chosen Xbox to work with Kojima Productions on Physint. His ambition to challenge conventions reflects the kind of creativity we want to support at Xbox."
PlayStation acknowledged the decision while maintaining that its relationship with Kojima remains positive.
Sony said: "After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on its project Physint. We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima’s vision for the game."
When Physint was first announced during a 2024 State of Play presentation, PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst introduced the project as part of a partnership between Sony and Kojima Productions.
Kojima described the game as an interactive experience that would combine video games and cinema.
He said at the time: "It is a completely new ‘Action Espionage’ for the next-generation."
Details about Physint remain limited, and the project is still several years away from release.
Kojima previously suggested the game could launch around five or six years after development began.
