Xbox will publish Hideo Kojima’s upcoming action-espionage game Physint after Sony reportedly decided to end its involvement. The unexpected change marks a major shift for a game originally announced as a major PlayStation project and closely associated with the PS5 manufacturer.
PlayStation, Xbox, and Kojima Productions revealed the change through a series of announcements. Sony confirmed that it had stepped away from the project in June, while Xbox subsequently agreed to publish Physint. The deal could also point to a broader relationship between Xbox and Kojima Productions, extending beyond the developer’s existing work on OD.
An update from PlayStation Studios: 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. Our relationship remains strong after three decades of industry-leading, genre-defining creative cooperation, and we look forward to continued close collaboration with Hideo Kojima and his award-winning independent studio in the future.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 10, 2026
Kojima confirmed the change on X, saying the two sides had found common ground on the project’s future direction. “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 Metal Gear Solid creator wrote.
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
Sony confirms it has left Physint
PlayStation was the first to publicly address the change, stating that it had decided to end its collaboration with Kojima Productions on Physint. The announcement came as a surprise, given Sony’s prominent role in introducing the project and its relationship with Kojima.
“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on its project Physint,” Sony’s gaming division said in a post on X. The company also said the decision did not end its relationship with the developer, adding that it looked forward to continued “close collaboration” with Kojima Productions in the future.
Xbox quickly responded. Just a minute after PlayStation’s statement, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that the company would take on Physint alongside OD, another project Kojima Productions is developing for Xbox.
“Physint and OD!” Sharma said. “Proud to build both with @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN in Japan. A big moment for Xbox.”
The rapid sequence of announcements suggested that the change had been planned privately before being revealed publicly. However, neither Sony nor Xbox explained why PlayStation had decided to leave Physint or what specific circumstances led to the change in publishing arrangements.
For Kojima Productions, the move lets the project continue despite losing its original publishing partner. The developer had been looking for another company willing to support the game after Sony’s decision, with Kojima saying the search took several months.
Kojima says the project was unexpectedly cancelled
Kojima provided more detail in a separate post, revealing that Kojima Productions learned of Sony’s decision in June. He described the news as unexpected and made clear that Physint remained important to both himself and his studio.
“In mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the Physint project,” Kojima said. “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,” before ultimately reaching an agreement with Xbox.
The comments suggest Kojima Productions did not abandon the project after Sony’s departure. Instead, the studio actively sought a new partner that could take over the publishing role and let development continue.
Xbox’s involvement may also extend beyond simply publishing Physint. In an Xbox Wire announcement, the company said its relationship with Kojima Productions would extend beyond video games, potentially creating opportunities for the two organisations to work together on other forms of entertainment.
“In addition to OD and Physint, this relationship will also extend beyond games, with Xbox and Kojima Productions collaborating across film and television to bring new stories to broader audiences,” Xbox said.
That statement is particularly notable given Kojima’s long-standing interest in film and other forms of storytelling. It also suggests that the partnership could become a wider creative relationship rather than being limited to two individual games.
The move follows the existing collaboration between Kojima Productions and Xbox on OD, a project first revealed at The Game Awards in 2022. While details about OD remain limited, its development established an existing working relationship between the Japanese studio and Microsoft’s gaming business.
Physint’s future changes dramatically
Sony and Kojima Productions originally announced Physint in 2024 as a major new action-espionage project. The reveal drew considerable attention because of Kojima’s history with the Metal Gear franchise and the game’s positioning as a spiritual continuation of the action-espionage style of his earlier work.
PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst appeared alongside Kojima during the original announcement, reinforcing the impression that Sony was closely invested in the project. The reveal also featured Columbia Pictures at the end of the presentation, suggesting that the project could have connections to film or eventually expand into other forms of entertainment.
That original presentation made Physint appear to be an important part of PlayStation’s future software line-up. Sony’s subsequent decision to leave the project therefore represents a substantial change from the plans presented to audiences in 2024.
The reasons behind Sony’s withdrawal remain unclear. Neither company has publicly explained whether the decision was related to development costs, creative direction, production timelines, commercial expectations or other factors. The lack of an explanation has left questions about the circumstances surrounding the project, particularly given Sony’s high-profile involvement at its original unveiling.
For now, Physint remains in development under Kojima Productions with Xbox as its new publishing partner. The change gives the project a different platform relationship than originally expected, while Xbox’s comments about film and television suggest the partnership could have wider ambitions.
The development also highlights how major game projects can change direction during production, even after a high-profile announcement. Physint was introduced as a PlayStation-associated project, but its future will now be shaped by a partnership between Kojima Productions and Xbox, potentially opening a new chapter for one of the industry’s most closely watched upcoming games.
