Hideo Kojima has spoken out about the unexpected termination of Sony's partnership with his studio, Kojima Productions, for the upcoming title Physint. The game director revealed in an interview with IGN that the decision was delivered over a single Zoom call, leaving him blindsided and concerned for the future of his studio.
Kojima described the moment Sony informed him they could no longer fund Physint's development. "I was shocked and I said 'What did you say?'" he recounted. "I couldn't quite process what they had said. I wasn't sure because I was in such shock." While acknowledging the broader industry challenges, including studio closures and project cancellations, Kojima had believed Physint was secure. The immediate concern, he stated, was practical: "My first thought was 'What am I going to do with my studio?'"
The financial implications of losing a major project were significant. Kojima explained that Kojima Productions had taken out bank loans, and the cancellation of a flagship title like Physint, alongside their other project OD, could have jeopardized the studio's cash flow and potentially led to mass layoffs. "I thought I might have to cut all the people working on Physint, right? Or our studio could end up collapsing because we'll run out of cashflow." He also noted a shift in his long-standing relationship with Sony, observing that key contacts he had worked with for decades were no longer in place.
Despite the shock, Kojima expressed no ill will towards Sony. "Nothing could’ve prepared me for their decision to step away from the project. So I thought, 'What am I going to do from tomorrow?' But from my side, I love Sony. And I don't have any bad feelings against them."
Following the abrupt end to the Sony partnership, Kojima sought a new publisher. Instead of pitching Physint as a singular game, he decided to present it as a broader intellectual property with potential for multimedia expansion, including movies, dramas, anime, and more. This approach, he claimed, received positive reactions. Ultimately, Kojima chose to partner with Xbox, citing their technical support capabilities and existing relationship from the development of OD.
"I approached Xbox and they were great. They could support us technically. And also we've been working on OD with them, so we already had a connection," Kojima said. "I made a proper pitch of Physint to them. And then their first reaction was like: 'This pitch was fantastic. Never seen a pitch like this!' And that was how it started with Xbox."
While Xbox is currently undergoing its own period of restructuring, including layoffs and studio closures, the company has demonstrated a commitment to Kojima's projects, having previously protected his games from internal downsizing.