Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint, a title aiming to revive the 'tactical espionage action' genre, has found a new publishing partner in Xbox. This comes after PlayStation reportedly attempted to cancel the project in June of this year. Kojima Productions announced that it has teamed up with Microsoft, marking a significant shift for the anticipated game.
"In mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the Physint project," Hideo Kojima stated on X. He emphasized the project's personal importance and Kojima Productions' determination to see it through, noting that the studio spent three months seeking a new partner. "In the course of seeking advice and pursuing negotiations with people across many fields, 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 assured fans that development of Physint, described as a genre-defining action-espionage title, is ongoing. PlayStation has also released a statement regarding the situation, expressing continued admiration for Kojima's vision. "After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on its project Physint," the official PlayStation X account posted. "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."
Xbox boss Asha Sharma shared her enthusiasm for the new partnership, writing, "Physint and OD! Proud to build both with @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN in Japan. A big moment for Xbox."
The transition may present some logistical challenges. It remains uncertain whether Physint will continue to utilize the Decima Engine, which was developed by Guerrilla Games and is owned by Sony. The game itself is described by Kojima as an unconventional experience, intended to be "both a game and a movie at the same time," drawing parallels to the Metal Gear Solid series.
Physint does not yet have a release date, but it was previously anticipated to launch within the next six years. This collaboration follows another Kojima project with Xbox, titled OD, which Kojima has previously stated was met with skepticism from individuals at major companies who deemed it too unconventional.