Hideo Kojima’s next action-espionage game, PHYSINT, is moving to Xbox after PlayStation Studios cancelled the project in mid-June, according to Kojima. The game which was once associated closely with PlayStation, is now moving forward with Xbox as its new partner. It is a big change for a project that has been in the spotlight, especially with Kojima’s history as the mind behind Metal Gear and Death Stranding.
Kojima said his studio unexpectedly received notice in mid-June that PlayStation Studios would cancel PHYSINT, then spent three months searching for a new partner. The two accounts do not match. On one hand PlayStation said it made “the difficult decision to step away from collaborating” after “careful consideration,” language suggesting a considered withdrawal. On the other hand, Kojima described being told the project would be cancelled, without warning. Kojima Productions has also said that PHYSINT is still an important project for their team.
PlayStation Cancelled PHYSINT in June
PlayStation studios announced it was ending its collaboration with Kojima Productions on PHYSINT publicly on September 9, roughly nine minutes before Kojima posted his account. PlayStation said its relationship with Kojima remained strong after “three decades of industry-leading, genre-defining creative co-operation.” PlayStation also said it looks forward to more collaborations with Kojima and his independent studio.
Kojima said the studio was determined to continue the project “at all costs” and found in Xbox a partner sharing a common vision for the future. For Kojima Productions, PHYSINT remains in active development. Kojima also stressed that the game matters to him and the studio and he reassured fans that they are pushing ahead.
An update from PlayStation Studios: After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on its project PHYSINT. We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima's vision for the game.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 10, 2026
Our relationship…
Xbox Expands its Partnership with Kojima Productions
This shift also brings Kojima Productions and Xbox even closer together. Kojima said the deal “expands our relationship with Xbox beyond OD,” the horror game the studio is already making for Microsoft.
Xbox publicly welcomed Kojima Productions, saying they are excited to shape the future together. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said, “We’re honored that Kojima-san has chosen Xbox to work with Kojima Productions on Physint.” She also posted that it was “a big moment for Xbox,” and Xbox’s statement closed with “We’re just getting started.”
The partnership is not just limited to video games alone. Xbox and Kojima Productions also plan to work together in film and television, aiming to share new stories with more people. This makes their deal bigger than a typical gaming partnership.
Kojima is best known for the Metal Gear series before founding Kojima Productions in 2015. The studio released Death Stranding in 2019. PHYSINT was announced as a PlayStation project in January 2024, with cast members Charlee Fraser, Ma Dong-seok and Minami Hamabe revealed at the studio’s 10th anniversary event in 2025.
As confirmed earlier through our official channels, in mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the PHYSINT project. PHYSINT is an important project both to me personally and to KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS. Determined to keep… pic.twitter.com/rQqhxAnb7N
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) September 10, 2026
What PHYSINT Means for Kojima Productions
PHYSINT marks Kojima’s return to action-espionage, which is a genre he helped shape with Metal Gear. That is what makes this project special, especially for fans who have followed his career.
Platforms, release window and engine have not been reconfirmed under the new arrangement, so whether PHYSINT becomes an Xbox exclusive is still unclear. Kojima Productions says it is determined to redefine action-espionage with PHYSINT. Kojima keeps calling it a project that matters to him personally and to everyone at the studio.
This is more like a new chapter for PHYSINT and not an end. PlayStation says its bond with Kojima is still strong as Xbox is stepping in as the new publishing partner. Right now, Kojima Productions says work on PHYSINT is still underway. Xbox is expected to share more updates as the project moves ahead.
