Xbox To Publish Hideo Kojima’s Action Espionage Game Physint Following End Of PlayStation Partnership

In a surprising industry shift, Physint—Kojima Productions’ highly anticipated tactical espionage project—will no longer be published by PlayStation. Following the console giant’s decision to step away from the venture, Xbox has officially stepped in to take over publishing duties, further expanding its growing alliance with the legendary studio behind the upcoming horror title OD.

Initially unveiled in January 2024, Physint marks visionary director Hideo Kojima’s triumphant return to the tactical stealth genre he helped define with Konami’s iconic Metal Gear franchise. While concrete gameplay details remain scarce, the studio has confirmed a stellar ensemble cast featuring Charlee Fraser (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee (Train to Busan, Eternals), and Minami Hamabe (Godzilla Minus One). The identity of the game’s central protagonist, however, is still tightly under wraps.

In an official statement released on social media, PlayStation explained the parting of ways: “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.”

The message continued, emphasizing the enduring bond between the two entities: “Our relationship remains strong after three decades of industry-leading, genre-defining creative cooperation, and we look forward to continued close collaboration with Hideo Kojima and his award-winning independent studio in the future.”

PlayStation and Kojima share a rich, decades-long history of critically acclaimed releases, most recently teaming up for the Death Stranding franchise, including the acclaimed sequel that debuted last year.

Shortly after the announcement, Xbox issued a formal press release confirming its new role as the global publisher for Physint:

Hideo Kojima has spent his career challenging conventions and expanding what interactive entertainment can achieve. Today, Kojima Productions is thrilled to announce the next monumental chapter of our partnership with Xbox.

“Creators deserve the freedom to choose where and how they bring their most ambitious visions to life. We are deeply honored that Kojima-san has chosen Xbox to collaborate with Kojima Productions on Physint. His relentless drive to push boundaries mirrors the exact philosophy of creativity we champion here at Xbox,” noted Asha Sharma, CEO of Xbox.

“This agreement significantly broadens our alliance with Xbox beyond our ongoing work on OD. As we press forward with Physint, our dedication to revolutionizing the action-espionage genre for players worldwide remains absolute,” added Hideo Kojima, visionary creator and founder of Kojima Productions.

Beyond the realm of video games, this expanded partnership will also venture into multimedia storytelling, with both teams collaborating on film and television projects to introduce these cinematic universes to wider audiences.

Given Kojima’s previous statements in May 2025 estimating that Physint was roughly 5 to 6 years away from completion, the title is firmly positioned as a cutting-edge, next-generation experience. Consequently, the game is widely expected to debut on Microsoft’s upcoming hardware platform, Project Helix. Physint will ultimately arrive following the release of OD, Kojima’s psychological horror venture crafted in tandem with visionary filmmaker Jordan Peele.