XBOX To Publish Kojima’s ‘Physint’, Not Sony
Xbox Pick Up Hideo Kojima’s Action-Espionage Title 'Physint' After PlayStation Departure
In a major industry shift, Kojima Productions has officially confirmed that its upcoming action-espionage game, Physint, will now be published in partnership with Xbox Game Studios. The announcement comes shortly after PlayStation Studios elected to step back from the project earlier this summer.
The news marks a major expansion of the relationship between Microsoft and Kojima Productions, who are already collaborating on the upcoming cloud-powered horror title OD.
PlayStation Steps Away from Action-Espionage IP
First announced during a 2024 PlayStation State of Play presentation, Physint was originally pitched as Hideo Kojima’s spiritual return to the tactical stealth genre he pioneered with Metal Gear Solid. However, Kojima confirmed via social channels that PlayStation Studios unexpectedly notified the developer in mid-June 2026 that they would be stepping away from funding and publishing the title.
In a formal statement, PlayStation noted that after careful consideration, the decision was made to step away from the collaboration while maintaining admiration for Kojima’s creative vision. Because Kojima Productions retains full ownership of the Physint intellectual property, the independent studio spent the last three months seeking a new publishing partner to keep development moving forward.
Xbox Steps In to Expand Kojima Partnership
Microsoft moved quickly to secure publishing rights, bringing Physint under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma expressed enthusiasm for the expanded partnership, stating that Kojima’s ambition to challenge genre conventions aligns directly with Xbox’s vision for its first-party catalog.
Alongside software publishing, the expanded agreement extends beyond video games. Xbox and Kojima Productions confirmed plans to cross-collaborate on potential film and television adaptations based on Physint and OD, leveraging Microsoft's broader media partnerships to bring Kojima’s narratives to wider audiences.
What This Means for Platform Availability and Release Timelines
The shift in publishing ownership effectively ends Physint's status as a PlayStation exclusive. While specific platforms have not yet been locked in, the title is expected to launch natively on Xbox hardware—including Microsoft’s next-generation system, Project Helix—alongside day-one availability on PC and Xbox Game Pass.
Development on Physint remains in early production stages. With Kojima Productions currently finishing work on OD, Physint is positioned as a long-term, next-generation project slated to release further down the line.
Out of Sync Take
Kojima's ability to take Physint over to Xbox ensures that his vision for a modern tactical espionage game stays alive. For Xbox, picking up a high-profile Kojima action game alongside OD provides a massive boost to their portfolio. I’m excited about the prospect of this game, even though we know nothing about it, but when Kojima’s creating something it’s worth keeping any eye on.
