TOKYO – An earthquake has hit the video game industry: Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially severed ties with Kojima Productions over the publication of PHYSINT, the highly anticipated action-espionage game announced in 2024 as the spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid.
Hideo Kojima himself revealed the backstory, explaining that he unexpectedly received a cancellation notice from PlayStation Studios in mid-June. “PHYSINT is a project of critical importance, both to me personally and to my studio. Determined to keep it alive, we spent the last three months tirelessly searching for a new partner”, stated the famous Japanese game designer.
The turnaround came quickly: Microsoft seized the opportunity, taking over the publication and intellectual property concept to bring it under the Xbox banner. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma enthusiastically welcomed the deal, confirming that the partnership with Kojima will extend far beyond gaming. The agreement includes the joint development of cross-media content for film and television, expanding on the alliance already formed for the horror title OD.
For its part, Sony opted for a diplomatically toned press release, reaffirming its deep respect for Kojima and leaving the door open to potential future collaborations on other projects.
Despite losing PlayStation exclusivity, development on PHYSINT continues full steam ahead. With the Tokyo Game Show right around the corner, fans’ eyes are now on the Xbox stage, where the first updates on the game’s new direction could be revealed.
