Hideo Kojima has revealed that Sony ended its involvement with the upcoming action-espionage game PHYSINT during a Zoom call. In an interview with IGN, Kojima stated that Sony Interactive Entertainment requested the meeting in June, which served as the “final notice” for the company’s departure from the project.
Kojima described the decision as a shock and noted that he was given no explanation for why PlayStation was walking away. He told IGN that Sony has not contacted him since the meeting. The developer said his immediate concern following the call was the future of Kojima Productions, as the studio had already hired staff specifically for the project.
Transition to Xbox
Following the June notification, Kojima Productions spent approximately three months seeking a new publishing partner. The studio eventually reached an agreement with Xbox, which was already collaborating with the studio on the title OD. Kojima remains determined to finish PHYSINT, and development continues with casting currently underway.
Despite the split, Kojima stated in an interview with The Washington Post that he was “shocked and surprised” when funding was pulled, but clarified that there is no ongoing dispute. He pointed to a 30-year relationship with Sony and asserted, We’re not in dispute. We’re not fighting with them.
Response to Speculation
On September 20, Kojima Productions issued an official statement on X regarding reports about the reasons for the split. The studio pushed back against claims concerning its relationship with PlayStation, the production investments for PHYSINT, and the commercial success of the Death Stranding series. The developer stated that these claims did not come from official or on-the-record sources and urged readers to treat the information with skepticism.
The studio acknowledged that losing PlayStation as a publisher was a serious situation
that could have had major consequences. However, Kojima Productions reassured fans that the studio remains in a healthy, profitable state and that its relationship with PlayStation remains strong.
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