Hideo Kojima’s next major game, Physint, has taken a surprising new path. The action-espionage title will now have Xbox as its publishing partner after PlayStation decided to step away from the project.
The change is a major one because Physint was first announced in 2024 as a project with PlayStation. Kojima has also had a long relationship with Sony. His studio, Kojima Productions, worked with PlayStation on the two Death Stranding games, so the decision to leave Physint came as a surprise to many people.
Kojima has now confirmed that development of Physint will continue with Xbox. He said his team spent about three months looking for a new partner after PlayStation told the studio in June that it would cancel the project.
PlayStation Decided to Leave the Project
The story took a sharp turn in mid-June 2026. Kojima said Kojima Productions received an unexpected notice from PlayStation Studios about the cancellation of Physint.
The news was unusual because Sony had first announced the project with Kojima in January 2024. At that time, Physint was presented as a new action-espionage game and a major return to the type of games that made Kojima famous.
Sony later confirmed that it had decided to stop its work with Kojima Productions on Physint. The company said it still respected Kojima’s creative vision and said its relationship with the developer remained strong.
Sony also pointed to its long history with Kojima. The company said that relationship had lasted for about three decades and included several major creative projects.
Kojima Looked for a New Partner
For Kojima, the cancellation did not mean the end of Physint.
He made it clear that the project was very important to him and to Kojima Productions. His team wanted to keep the game alive, so it began a search for another publisher.
That search lasted about three months.
During this period, Kojima Productions spoke with people from different parts of the entertainment business and held talks with possible partners. The studio eventually chose Xbox.
Kojima said Xbox shared a common vision for the future. That shared vision became a key reason for the new partnership.
The move also makes sense because Kojima Productions already has a relationship with Microsoft. The two companies are also working on OD, a separate horror title that Xbox will publish.
Xbox Steps In
Xbox has now taken over the publishing role for Physint.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma welcomed Kojima and his studio. She said creators should have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life. She also said Xbox was proud that Kojima chose to work with the company.
For Xbox, the deal gives the company another major project from one of the best-known creators in video games.
Kojima has a very strong name in the industry. His work helped shape the modern stealth and action-espionage genre. His best-known creation is the Metal Gear series, which became one of the most important game franchises of its era.
Physint gives Xbox a chance to work with Kojima on a project that has a clear connection to that part of his career.
What Exactly Is Physint?
Physint is a new action-espionage game from Kojima Productions.
The game was first shown during a PlayStation State of Play event in January 2024. Kojima described it as a next-generation action-espionage title.
The project aims to mix game play with the type of film-style storytelling that Kojima is known for. Kojima has often used long scenes, detailed characters and large story ideas in his games.
Physint is also seen by many fans as a possible spiritual successor to Metal Gear. That does not mean it is a new Metal Gear game. The Metal Gear name belongs to Konami, and Physint is a separate new property from Kojima Productions.
Still, the connection is easy to understand. Kojima created Metal Gear and helped make stealth action one of the most important game genres.
Physint is his return to action-espionage after his departure from Konami in 2015.
The Game Is Still Far Away
Fans should not expect Physint soon.
The game has no confirmed release date at this time. Reports suggest that 2030 is the earliest possible window, based on Kojima’s earlier comments about the project.
In 2025, Kojima said the game could still be about five or six years away. That made a release around 2030 a possible target.
The project is therefore still several years from launch. The move from PlayStation to Xbox also adds a major change to its development and publishing plan.
For now, Kojima Productions has confirmed that work on the title will continue.
No Platforms Have Been Confirmed
Another important detail is that the platforms for Physint have not been confirmed.
Xbox is now the publisher, but that does not automatically mean the game will be exclusive to Xbox.
There is a lot of discussion about whether Physint will come only to Xbox systems or whether it will also appear on PC and other platforms. At present, there is no official confirmation on this point.
The situation is also unusual because the project began as a PlayStation collaboration. The change to Xbox creates questions about the game’s final release plan.
Until Kojima Productions or Xbox gives more details, fans will have to wait for a clear answer.
Kojima and Xbox Have Bigger Plans
The new partnership may go beyond video games.
Xbox and Kojima Productions have said their relationship will also include film and television work. The two sides want to explore ways to bring new stories to a wider audience.
This is an important part of the deal because Kojima has long shown interest in film and other forms of entertainment.
His games already use many film-style ideas. His interest in movies and television has also been clear for years.
The new Xbox relationship could give Kojima Productions more room to explore stories across different forms of media. The companies have not yet shared full details about these future projects.
What Happens to the PlayStation Relationship?
The end of Sony’s work on Physint does not appear to mean the end of its relationship with Kojima.
PlayStation said it still has great respect for Kojima and his creative vision. Sony also said its relationship with Kojima remains strong.
That statement matters because Kojima and PlayStation have a long history together.
Kojima Productions worked with Sony on Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2. Both games had strong links with PlayStation.
The two sides now have a very different relationship with Physint, but Sony has not said that all future cooperation with Kojima has ended.
A Big Win for Xbox
For Xbox, Physint is a major addition to its list of upcoming projects.
The company already has a partnership with Kojima Productions for OD. Now it will also publish Physint.
This gives Xbox two major Kojima projects instead of one. It also places Microsoft closer to one of the most famous creative names in the game industry.
The move comes at a time when Xbox is trying to build a wider game business. The company has placed more focus on major franchises and large new ideas.
A Kojima game fits that strategy well because Physint is a new property with a famous creator behind it.
A New Chapter for Physint
The story of Physint has changed more than once since its 2024 reveal.
It began as a PlayStation project. Then, in June 2026, Sony decided to step away. Kojima Productions spent three months searching for another partner. Xbox then stepped in and agreed to publish the game.
Despite all these changes, the most important point for fans is simple: Physint is still alive.
Kojima has made it clear that the team wants to continue its work. Xbox has also shown strong support for the project.
The game remains several years away, and there is still no confirmed release date or platform list. A 2030 release is the earliest expected window, but even that is not official.
For now, Physint represents a new chapter for Kojima Productions. It also marks a major new partnership between Kojima and Xbox.
After years of work with PlayStation, one of gaming’s most famous creators is now taking his next action-espionage project to a new home. What the final game looks like, and how far Kojima can take his ideas with Xbox, will become clearer as development moves ahead.
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