Xbox Game Studios steps in to publish Hideo Kojima's espionage title Physint after Sony cancels its deal. Read Kojima's statement and project updates!
In a seismic industry shift, Xbox Game Studios has officially acquired global publishing rights for Physint, the mysterious next-generation action-espionage title from world-renowned auteur Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions. Originally unveiled alongside Sony Interactive Entertainment during PlayStation's January 2024 State of Play, the project hit a major roadblock when PlayStation unexpectedly canceled its collaboration in June 2026. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed via Xbox Wire that Microsoft will now publish the genre-defining title, turning Physint into a flagship console exclusive for the Xbox Series X|S and PC ecosystems.
Why Did Sony Cancel Physint and Why Did Xbox Step In?
The publishing handover follows a turbulent three-month search behind closed doors after PlayStation Studios abruptly pulled funding.
- Sony's Official Statement: PlayStation Studios confirmed it made the "difficult decision to discontinue our collaboration with Kojima Productions on their Physint project" following strategic adjustments, while asserting its overall creative relationship with Kojima remains strong.
- Kojima's Search for a New Partner: Hideo Kojima revealed on social media that his team received the unexpected cancellation notice in mid-June 2026. Kojima spent three months negotiating across media sectors to secure a partner capable of funding his ambitious vision.
- Xbox's Big Bet: Xbox CEO Asha Sharma hailed Kojima's boundary-pushing creativity, stating that Microsoft is honored to support a project that aims to challenge conventional genre limits.
What Is Hideo Kojima's 'Physint' and How Does It Connect to 'OD'?
Billed as a spiritual successor to Kojima's legendary Metal Gear Solid franchise, Physint aims to blur the lines between traditional video games and Hollywood cinema.
- A Hybrid Film and Game Experience: Kojima has described the project as a next-generation interactive thriller that matches the visual fidelity, acting, and narrative scope of major theatrical films.
- Expanding Xbox Collaboration Beyond OD: The deal builds upon Kojima Productions' ongoing partnership with Xbox Game Studios for the cloud-powered horror game OD.
- Cross-Media Film and Television Expansion: Microsoft and Kojima Productions announced that their partnership around Physint will extend beyond gaming into film and television adaptations to reach broader audiences.
- Uninterrupted Production Schedule: Kojima assured players that active development on Physint has continued uninterrupted through the publisher transition, with casting and performance-capture scheduled to move forward.
As confirmed earlier through our official channels, in mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the PHYSINT project. PHYSINT is an important project both to me personally and to KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS. 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. Please rest assured that development of PHYSINT, our genre-defining action-espionage title, is ongoing and will continue moving forward.
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) September 10, 2026