It's an understatement to say that Hideo Kojima and the PlayStation brand shared an almost symbiotic relationship for nearly three decades. As early as 1998, the global triumph of Metal Gear Solid on the original PlayStation helped cement Sony's unique mature and cinematic identity. So, when the Japanese icon was dismissed by Konami after the Metal Gear Solid V drama and the abrupt abandonment of Silent Hills, Sony immediately embraced the creator, funding Death Stranding on PS4, and then its direct sequel on PS5.
Eager to prepare for the post-*Death Stranding* era, Kojima was, however, working on two projects. On one side, there's OD, a survival horror designed exclusively for the Xbox ecosystem, co-written by Jordan Peele (Get Out), with Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier in the cast. On the other, there's Physint, a return to action-espionage intended to revolutionize the genre while cementing Kojima's loyalty to the PS5. Except Sony decided to blow up the alliance by **canceling all collaboration with Kojima for Physint**.
The only official image of Physint
Sony Cancels Kojima's Project...
Suffice to say, the announcement came like a bolt from the blue. Given the longevity of this seemingly untouchable Kojima-PlayStation marriage of convenience, no one saw such a separation coming between two historical pillars of the Japanese archipelago. Faced with general disbelief, Hideo Kojima himself spoke out on his social networks on September 10, 2026, to explain that the split dated back to June 2026.
"*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 game alive, we spent the last three months relentlessly searching for a new partner. Through discussions and negotiations with many industry players, we found in XBOX an ally with whom we share a common vision for the future, and we decided to team up with them again. Rest assured: the development of PHYSINT, our action-espionage title designed to redefine the genre, is proceeding and will see completion.*"
...And Xbox Recovers the Bet
Thanks to this reversal, Microsoft's gaming division scores a nice coup by locking down Kojima Productions' next two blockbusters under its own banner. For Sony, however, this desertion resonates as a new blow to its public image, just weeks after the announcement of the outright removal of its physical media by January 2028.
For its part, Microsoft's management didn't hide its pleasure at this unexpected acquisition. The new Xbox General Manager, Asha Sharma, released a triumphant statement on the firm's official channels.
"*Creators are free to choose where and how they bring their ideas to life. We are extremely honored that Kojima-san has chosen XBOX to collaborate with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on PHYSINT. His ambition to disrupt conventions exactly reflects the kind of creativity we want to support at XBOX.*"
Hideo Kojima at Xbox
This is a boon to try and restore the image of a brand severely battered by the layoff of 3,200 employees imposed earlier this year. Especially since Asha Sharma's trajectory is almost laughable: the executive has just been co-opted by the US Federal Reserve to co-lead a working group dedicated to... employment and productivity. An irony that won't stop the Redmond bigwigs from popping champagne.
For now, Physint is still being developed in great secrecy, without any release window or a single snippet of gameplay to feast on. As for the horror project OD, while it did offer a very disturbing glimpse reminiscent of the P.T. project, it also remains without an official calendar.