Renowned game director Hideo Kojima's upcoming project, codenamed Physint, will now be published by Xbox, Microsoft confirmed today. Previously announced as a PlayStation project, Physint—widely considered a spiritual successor to the Metal Gear Solid series—will see its development continue under Microsoft's publishing umbrella.

The shift comes after Sony Interactive Entertainment unexpectedly canceled the project in mid-June, according to Kojima himself. "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," Kojima stated on X. "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 found a new home for Physint with Xbox, with whom he also has a deal to publish his horror title OD. The expanded partnership between Kojima Productions and Xbox will extend beyond games to encompass film and television projects. "This expands our relationship with XBOX beyond OD," Kojima said. "As we move forward with the development of PHYSINT, we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world."

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma highlighted the significance of the new partnership. "Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life," Sharma commented. "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."

PlayStation issued a statement acknowledging the decision: "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."

Physint was initially revealed during the 2024 State of Play broadcast, where PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst spoke of a groundbreaking adventure and support for the project. The announcement at the time included a visual that revealed the project's association with Columbia Pictures, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.

Details about Physint remain scarce, though Kojima has previously described it as a completely new action-espionage title for the next generation, blending interactive gameplay with cinematic presentation. "Of course, it is an interactive game," Kojima explained previously, "but it is also a movie at the same time." He emphasized that the game would leverage cutting-edge technology and top talent from both film and video game industries to achieve a new level of "Digital Entertainment."

Development on Physint is estimated to be several years away, with Kojima previously suggesting a five-to-six-year timeframe last year. However, work is reportedly ramping up. The game is expected to feature significant talent, with recent speculation pointing to Robert Pattinson in a potential role. Kojima has also confirmed the involvement of actors Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe, who have each shared videos expressing their excitement. Visuals revealed previously showcased highly realistic CG character models, hinting at the game's graphical ambition, though the game engine has not been specified.

Kojima Productions' horror title OD, which is also being published by Xbox, is expected to release before Physint.