Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind titles like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, has stated that he does not know if his new spy game, 'Physint,' will be exclusive to Xbox. Microsoft's gaming division recently took over publishing duties for 'Physint' after Sony reportedly dropped the project. "That would be a question for Xbox. But I don't know for sure," Kojima told IGN in a recent interview.
Under former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, Microsoft began publishing some of its major titles on other platforms, a trend that saw games like Halo eventually appear on PlayStation. However, the current leadership, including new CEO Asha Sharma, has indicated a potential shift back towards a more exclusive approach for some titles, with decisions to be made on a case-by-case basis. Kojima suggested that Xbox's broader strategy may involve making games accessible to the largest possible audience, regardless of platform. "In previous updates from Xbox, I thought that they have this kind of stance where they want to deliver to as many gamers as possible, no matter what the platform is," he commented. "I think all of that will be announced at a later time. I'm not sure yet, and I can't really say."
Xbox is also set to publish Kojima's horror game 'OD.' Both 'Physint' and 'OD' are slated to feature notable celebrity talent. Bill Skarsgard is attached to star in 'Physint,' while 'OD' will feature Hunter Schafer, Sophia Lillis, and the late Udo Kier.
Reports had previously suggested that 'Physint' was facing budget overruns and development delays, which may have led to Sony's decision to part ways with the project. Kojima Productions issued a statement urging skepticism regarding these reports, though they did not explicitly deny the claims. Kojima himself expressed shock upon learning of Sony's withdrawal during a Zoom call, particularly as he believed 'Physint' had the potential to become his best-selling game to date.
Details regarding the release dates and specific content for both 'Physint' and 'OD' remain scarce, as both projects are still in their early stages of development.