PlayStation has dropped Hideo Kojima’s upcoming stealth action game Physint, and Xbox has stepped in to publish it instead. The surprise announcement came late on September 9, when PlayStation tweeted that it was ending its collaboration with Kojima Productions on the project, only for Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to confirm one minute later that her company had signed the deal. Kojima himself then joined the conversation with an unusually candid account of how PlayStation Studios tried to cancel the game back in June.
“We found in Xbox a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future, and we have decided to team up with them once again,” the Death Stranding 2 director wrote on X.
PlayStation’s Breakup Tweet
The news began with a public split. PlayStation’s official account tweeted at 10:30 p.m. ET that it was stepping away from Physint after careful consideration.
“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on its project Physint,” the brand tweeted. “We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima’s vision for the game.”
The tweet added that Sony’s “relationship remains strong” with Kojima. One minute later, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma posted her own announcement.
“A big moment for Xbox,” Sharma said, putting her stamp on her first major publishing deal since taking over.
Xbox’s Midnight Response
Sharma’s tweet confirmed that Physint would now be published by Xbox. Microsoft’s gaming division was already partnering with Kojima on the horror project OD, which survived the tech giant’s latest round of cuts.
Sharma’s post read: “Physint and OD! Proud to build both with @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN in Japan. A big moment for XBOX.”
The deal extends beyond games. An Xbox Wire blog post from Sharma said the partnership “will also extend beyond games, with XBOX and KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS collaborating across film and television to bring new stories to broader audiences.”
That ambition fits with Sharma’s stated goal of a billion users engaging with Xbox entertainment per day. A recent report from Puck claimed Microsoft was shopping around a $300 million licensing rights package to adapt franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Diablo, and others into movies and TV.
Kojima’s Account of the Cancellation
Kojima gave his own version of events at 10:39 p.m. ET, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the deal’s collapse.
“In mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the Physint project,” he wrote on X. “Physint is an important project both to me personally and to Kojima Productions.”
He continued: “Determined to keep the project alive, we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner. In the course of seeking advice and pursuing negotiations with people across many fields, we found in XBOX a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future, and we have decided to team up with them once again.”
The three-month search suggests the split was not amicable. PlayStation’s tweet described its own decision to step away, but Kojima’s account makes clear the cancellation came as a surprise to him and his studio.
What Is Physint?
Physint was first revealed during a January 2024 PlayStation showcase. Death Stranding 2 wasn’t even out yet, and very little has been shared since about what exactly the game will be or when it’s expected to ship.
The reveal was anything but casual. It included PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst appearing alongside Kojima before a drone camera pulled out to reveal that the segment was being recorded on the studio lot at Columbia Pictures in Hollywood.
“Today, I’m excited to announce that together, as part of the PlayStation and Kojima Productions partnership, Hideo’s going to take us on an exciting new adventure, one that I’ve been encouraging him to reinvent for years,” Hulst said at the time. “We are all really excited about this project, and we will fully support you with the latest innovations Sony has to offer.”
Apparently not.
The Deal at a Glance
- PlayStation canceled Physint in mid-June, per Kojima
- Kojima spent three months searching for a new partner
- Xbox signed the deal on September 9
- The partnership extends to film and television
- OD remains in development with Xbox
| Game | Original Publisher | New Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Physint | PlayStation | Xbox |
| OD | Xbox | Xbox |
Xbox’s Publishing Push
The deal gives Xbox a marquee name in Kojima, widely regarded as one of gaming’s most influential creators. Physint, described as a stealth action game, fits squarely in the genre Kojima defined with Metal Gear Solid.
Microsoft’s gaming division was already working with Kojima Productions on OD, the horror project that survived the company’s latest round of cuts, and the new agreement now brings both Physint and OD under the Xbox banner. Per Sharma’s Xbox Wire blog post, the collaboration will also extend across film and television to bring new stories to broader audiences — a fit with her stated goal of a billion users engaging with Xbox entertainment per day.
The partnership with Kojima Productions is Sharma’s first major publishing deal since taking over as Xbox CEO.
What Changes for Players
The platform shift is significant for anyone who was waiting for Physint. The game was originally announced as part of a PlayStation showcase.
When it was announced, Hermen Hulst promised that Sony would fully support the project “with the latest innovations Sony has to offer.” Instead, per Kojima’s account, PlayStation Studios sent notice in mid-June that the project would be canceled.
Xbox will publish the game. Whether it also appears on PS5 is unclear.
The film and television component adds another layer. Xbox’s reported interest in adapting franchises for the screen, combined with Kojima’s cinematic style, could make Physint a multimedia property rather than a single game.
The Road Ahead
The deal is a reminder that platform exclusivity is not permanent. Games announced for one console can end up on another, especially when a project’s future is in doubt.
PlayStation’s decision to cancel Physint is unusual. The game was revealed with considerable fanfare at a January 2024 showcase filmed on the studio lot at Columbia Pictures, and Hulst said at the time that he had been encouraging Kojima for years to reinvent this kind of adventure.
Kojima’s public account of the cancellation is also notable. He rarely speaks so directly about failed partnerships, and his description of a “tireless” three-month search paints a picture of a project that nearly died.
The deal gives Xbox a flagship title from one of gaming’s most celebrated creators. It also gives Kojima Productions a partner willing to fund both games and films, matching the director’s ambitions beyond the medium.
Whether Physint will live up to the hype remains to be seen. The game has been in development for years, and details remain scarce. But one thing is now clear: Xbox, not PlayStation, is the platform that will bring Kojima’s next stealth adventure to players.
Source: kotaku.com
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