Hideo Kojima's next major project, codenamed Physint, is officially an Xbox Game Studios title. The game, which Kojima has described as a return to his roots of tactical espionage action, was initially revealed during the PlayStation State of Play in January 2024. However, development has shifted, with Xbox now set to publish and assist in the game's creation.
A Long Road Ahead
Physint does not have a release date and is likely many years away. Kojima himself has indicated that the earliest the game could see release is around 2030. He noted in 2025 that he had just begun work on his horror game OD and that Physint was in a conceptual stage of development.
Given the lengthy development timeline, Physint is expected to be a next-generation title. With Xbox's involvement, it is anticipated to launch on PC and future Xbox hardware.
A Familiar Genre, New Faces
Physint is positioned as a spiritual successor to Kojima's iconic Metal Gear Solid series. The developer stated that his desire to create Physint stemmed from a wish to respond to fan requests for another Metal Gear-like experience, particularly after recovering from a serious illness during the COVID pandemic. This ambition to create a new tactical espionage action game follows his recent original works, Death Stranding and the upcoming OD.
Notable actors have already been attached to the project. Bill Skarsgard, known for his role in 'It,' will play the lead character. He will be joined by Charlee Fraser from 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,' Don Lee of 'Train to Busan,' and Minami Hamabe, who starred in 'Godzilla: Minus One.' Kojima expressed his confidence in the project, citing positive initial fittings, scans, and camera tests with Skarsgard and Fraser.
Development Journey and Xbox Partnership
Physint was originally being developed in partnership with Sony. However, the company later confirmed it would no longer be involved with Kojima Productions on this project. While no official reason was given for Sony's withdrawal, industry speculation pointed to concerns about development costs and timelines, with reports suggesting Physint had missed deadlines and was exceeding its budget. This led to Xbox stepping in to support the game.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated, "We're honored that Kojima-san has chosen Xbox to work with Kojima Productions on Physint. His ambition to challenge conventions reflects the kind of creativity we want to support at Xbox." Kojima assured fans that development is ongoing and will continue to progress despite the change in publishers.