Hideo Kojima’s Physint has a new publisher, and its development is moving forward. After Sony canceled the project, Xbox agreed to publish the upcoming game, giving Kojima Productions a path to continue work on a project Kojima says matters to him and his studio. The shift brings a major change to Physint’s future, but no release date has been announced.
The news marks a striking turn for a project that was initially developed for PlayStation. Sony’s gaming division decided to step away from its collaboration with Kojima Productions, while Xbox now takes the publishing role. For Kojima, the change closes a three-month search for a new partner and opens the next phase of Physint’s development.
PlayStation Steps Away, Xbox Steps In
Kojima confirmed that he received notice from PlayStation Studios in mid-June that the Physint project would be canceled. Sony’s gaming division described the move as a difficult decision, saying, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on its project Physint.”
The decision carries extra weight because Kojima’s Metal Gear franchise was a key element of PlayStation’s success since the 1990s. Physint began as a PlayStation project, connecting the new title to a long relationship between Kojima and the platform. That relationship has now changed, with Xbox taking over as the project’s publisher after Sony dropped out.
Kojima said the cancellation did not end Physint. Instead, the 63-year-old game creator spent three months searching for a new partner who could help keep the project alive. He described the project as important to both himself and Kojima Productions.
“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,” Kojima stated.
A Shared Vision Brings Kojima and Xbox Together Again
Xbox emerged as that partner, and Kojima said the two sides share a common vision for the future. The agreement also represents another collaboration between Kojima and Xbox, bringing the creator and the company together again around a project that survived a major change in 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,” Kojima said.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma pointed to Physint alongside another Kojima project, saying, “Physint and OD!” The statement connects Physint with the broader relationship between Kojima and Xbox, while the publishing agreement gives the new project a confirmed path ahead.
The arrangement also separates the project’s development from its original platform relationship. Kojima Productions remains the studio developing Physint, while Xbox becomes the company publishing it. Sony and PlayStation Studios no longer collaborate with Kojima Productions on the project.
Physint Continues Without a Release Date
Development of Physint is ongoing and will continue moving forward. Kojima did not indicate when the project will be released, so its schedule remains unknown. For now, the clearest update is that the project remains active under Kojima Productions with Xbox as its publisher.
That news gives Physint a fresh starting point after the mid-June cancellation. The project has already passed through a major transition, from its initial PlayStation development to a new publishing agreement with Xbox, yet its central creative connection to Kojima Productions remains in place.
Kojima’s recent standing adds another layer to the announcement. His Death Stranding 2 was considered a top contender at last year’s Game Awards, placing attention on his work before Physint’s publishing change. Now, Physint enters its next chapter with the project still in development and its creator determined to keep it moving.
The outcome is clear even without a release date: Sony stepped away, Xbox stepped in, and Kojima Productions kept Physint alive. The next milestone will come from the ongoing development itself, as Kojima and Xbox move forward with the project under their shared vision.
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