Hideo Kojima has offered further insight into Sony's decision to cease funding for his upcoming game, Physint, describing the announcement as a significant shock. In a recent interview, Kojima detailed the moment he received the news from Sony Interactive Entertainment via a Zoom call in June, stating he was initially unable to process the information.
"I was shocked, and I said, 'What did you say?' I couldn’t quite process what they had said. I wasn't sure because I was in shock," Kojima told IGN. The director did not specify who he spoke with during the meeting or the precise reasons behind Sony's withdrawal of support.
The sudden halt in funding presented an immediate challenge for Kojima Productions, which employs approximately 200 people. Initially, only Kojima and a few key studio heads were aware of the situation. This led to several months of searching for a new partner to ensure the project's continuation.
Ultimately, Xbox stepped in to become the publisher for Physint. Despite the setback, Kojima emphasized that there are no hard feelings towards Sony. He addressed potential speculation in an X post, stating, "Make no mistake, this was a serious situation for the studio with a range of potentially significant implications." He reassured fans and stakeholders that the studio is financially healthy, development for Physint is proceeding with Xbox, and the relationship with PlayStation remains positive.
Physint, described as a stealth-action game, was recently featured during Xbox's Tokyo Game Show broadcast, where Kojima announced that Bill Skarsgård will voice the protagonist.