Kojima Productions has urged players to treat recent industry reports about its unannounced game Physint with a heavy dose of skepticism, according to a studio statement published on its official X account. The response follows a Bloomberg report claiming PlayStation dropped the project due to Death Stranding revenue shortfalls and budget overruns, capping a turbulent shift in publishing partners that saw the action-espionage title move from Sony to Xbox.
Kojima Productions Pushes Back Against Unsubstantiated Speculation
The developer broke its silence on internet rumors surrounding the commercial health of the Death Stranding franchise and production planning for Physint. According to the studio statement, anonymous claims have reached beyond the office walls to affect fans, creative partners, and colleagues who have collaborated with the team for three decades. None of the written claims came from official or on-the-record sources, prompting the developer to ask players not to accept the reports at face value.
https://x.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/2101631479704883571
The studio added that while the partnership shift caused alarm, Kojima Productions remains in a healthy, profitable state. Development on Physint continues forward under the new Xbox agreement, and the studio maintains that its relationship with PlayStation remains strong despite the cancellation.
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How the PlayStation Fallout and Xbox Partnership Unfolded
The friction began in mid-June of this year when PlayStation Studios unexpectedly notified Kojima Productions that it was canceling the Physint project, according to statements made by Hideo Kojima last week. Kojima told IGN that he was shocked by the decision and could not initially process the news because he believed the project was safe. Sony did not contact the director after pulling funding, leaving him to search tirelessly for a new partner over a three-month period.
That search led to Xbox, a platform holder that shares a common vision for the future of the action-espionage genre. Despite the abrupt end to Sony’s financial backing, Kojima stated in his IGN interview that he holds no bad feelings toward PlayStation, citing a lifelong appreciation for Sony hardware like Walkmans and cameras, though he noted he would have preferred earlier notice after a 30-year partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Physint?
Physint is an upcoming genre-defining action-espionage title currently in development at Kojima Productions.
Who is publishing Physint now?
Xbox is publishing Physint after Kojima Productions moved the game’s production over following its cancellation by PlayStation Studios.
Why did PlayStation cancel Physint?
PlayStation notified Kojima Productions of the cancellation in mid-June. While a Bloomberg report alleged underperforming revenue from Death Stranding and missed budget deadlines, Kojima Productions has dismissed those claims as unsubstantiated speculation.
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