What Happened
On September 10, 2026, a sequence of announcements landed in minutes: PlayStation Studios posted it was "stepping away" from Physint, Hideo Kojima's next game. Xbox immediately followed, announcing it was taking over as publisher. Then Kojima himself issued a statement revealing Sony had told him the project was cancelled back in June — three months before either company said a word publicly.
Sources: VGC — Physint jumps from PlayStation to Xbox · Press Start — PlayStation steps away, Xbox publishes Physint
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2024 | Physint announced at PlayStation State of Play. Kojima and Sony's Hermen Hulst appear together |
| Mid-June 2026 | PlayStation Studios notifies Kojima Productions it is cancelling the project |
| June – September 2026 | Kojima searches for a new publisher for three months, negotiations kept private |
| September 10, 2026 | PlayStation posts public statement on X confirming it is "stepping away" |
| September 10, 2026 (minutes later) | Xbox announces it is expanding its Kojima Productions partnership to include Physint |
| September 10, 2026 | Hideo Kojima issues personal statement naming Sony as the party that cancelled, and confirming development continues |
What Is Physint
Physint was announced at the January 2024 PlayStation State of Play as a "brand-new, original IP" and a "next-generation action espionage game." Kojima described it as a return to the genre he built with Metal Gear, but with new mechanics and a deliberate blurring of the line between games and film — he said he planned to involve not just actors but film production staff on the creative side.
Hermen Hulst introduced the game alongside Kojima at the 2024 reveal:
“"We're not going to be sharing too many details today, but I can confirm that this game is fueled by the same creative energy, the same ambition that has made the PlayStation and Kojima partnership so powerful over the past 30 years." — Hermen Hulst, PlayStation Studios, January 2024
Kojima, in a separate interview cited by VGC, described the espionage format as territory he knows deeply while still pushing new ground:
“"This new game introduces new gimmicks, and we're also taking on the challenge of crossing the line between film and games." — Hideo Kojima
He also noted the irony of working at such speed that social themes he wanted to explore might appear in the real world before the game ships.
What Each Side Said
Hideo Kojima
Kojima's statement on X laid out the sequence clearly and by name:
“"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 the project alive, we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner." — Hideo Kojima
He then confirmed the new arrangement:
“"In the course of seeking advice and pursuing negotiations with people across many fields, we found in Xbox a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future, and we have decided to team up with them once again. Please rest assured that development of Physint, our genre-defining action-espionage title, is ongoing and will continue moving forward." — Hideo Kojima
"Team up with them once again" is a reference to OD, the horror game Kojima is already developing with Xbox.
PlayStation Studios
PlayStation's statement was short and offered no reason for the cancellation:
“"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. 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 Studios, September 10, 2026
Xbox
Xbox's official account kept it brief:
“"We started with OD. Now, our partnership with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS is expanding to PHYSINT. We're just getting started." — Xbox, September 10, 2026
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma followed up within minutes:
“"Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life. We're honored that Kojima-san has chosen Xbox to work with Kojima Productions on Physint. His ambition to challenge conventions reflects the kind of creativity we want to support at Xbox." — Asha Sharma, Xbox CEO
She added separately: "PHYSINT and OD! Proud to build both with @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN in Japan. A big moment for XBOX."
Why This Matters
This is the most prominent publisher switch in recent memory. Kojima spent nearly 30 years at Konami, then built his studio under Sony's umbrella — Death Stranding (2019) was a PlayStation exclusive first, the Director's Cut followed on PS5 before going to PC. Physint was widely expected to continue that PlayStation-first pattern.
The industry context makes it more significant:
- ▶Xbox now has two Kojima games in development simultaneously: OD and Physint. Neither has a release window yet.
- ▶Sony gave no public explanation for the cancellation. Analysts have pointed to PS6 timeline uncertainty, a reorganization of external publishing priorities, and the commercial underperformance of several recent PlayStation Studios-adjacent titles.
- ▶Xbox under Asha Sharma has positioned itself as a home for auteur creators and multiplatform-friendly publishing. This acquisition reinforces that narrative.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cancellation notice date | Mid-June 2026 (3 months before public disclosure) |
| Sony's stated reason | None given |
| Current publisher | Xbox / Microsoft |
| Platforms confirmed | None yet |
| Release window | Not announced |
| Other Kojima × Xbox project | OD (horror game, in development) |
What It Means for Players
If you were planning on Physint for PlayStation: No platform has been confirmed. A PS5 or PS6 version is not ruled out — Xbox increasingly ships its games on PC and, in some cases, other platforms — but an Xbox exclusive or Xbox + PC release is the more likely outcome given how Xbox has handled OD.
For PC players: Kojima's last two games reached PC. If Xbox follows the same playbook, Steam and PC Game Pass access seems plausible, though nothing is confirmed.
For the long term: Kojima has now aligned every current project — OD and Physint — with Xbox. The studio remains independent, but PlayStation is no longer its primary publishing partner for new IP.
No platforms, price, or release date have been announced. GamePeak will update this story when further details become available.
Sources: VGC (Chris Scullion, September 10, 2026), Press Start (Shannon Grixti, September 10, 2026), GameRant (Mohsen Baqery, September 10, 2026). All Kojima, PlayStation, and Xbox quotes sourced from official X statements posted September 10, 2026.