Hideo Kojima Says Sony Cancelled Physint Over a Zoom Call — Xbox Saved It
Hideo Kojima has spoken publicly for the first time about how Physint, his ambitious spy-action game, nearly died — and how Xbox brought it back to life. Sony cancelled the project without any in-person meetings, notifying Kojima through a Zoom call. For a game he's described as a lifelong creative ambition, the news hit hard.
The Zoom call that changed everything
In an interview with IGN, Kojima said the cancellation came as a massive shock. Journalist Jason Schreier noted on Bluesky that negotiations between Sony and Kojima Productions had actually been ongoing for months before the final call — softening the "no warning" framing slightly. Kojima himself holds no grudge against Sony, acknowledging that the company has to weigh its own costs and risks, and his projects have always been long and expensive.
With Physint on the brink, Kojima spent three months negotiating a new deal. Xbox — which already collaborates with Kojima Productions on the horror project OD — stepped in as publisher, officially announcing the expanded partnership on September 9, 2026. Xbox leadership reportedly embraced Physint with enthusiasm, attracted by its vision as a broad franchise spanning games, film, anime, comics, and other media.
PlayStation? Xbox will decide
The question most PlayStation owners want answered — will Physint come to PS5? — remains unanswered. Kojima was direct about it:
> "I don't know the answer to that question — it's better to ask Xbox. Based on Xbox's previous statements, it seemed to me that the company wants to reach as many players as possible regardless of platform. I think they'll announce that later. For now, I don't know anything for certain."
Xbox has historically made many of its games available across platforms, including PlayStation, following the Activision Blizzard acquisition. But no official statement on Physint's platform strategy has been made.
Engine in flux, release years away
There's another uncertainty beneath the surface: the game engine. Kojima may lose access to Decima — the engine behind Death Stranding, owned by Sony's Guerrilla Games. Per earlier reporting, recent promotional posters for Physint include an Unreal Engine 5 trademark, suggesting a migration may already be underway, though Kojima told IGN he hasn't decided yet.
Bill Skarsgård — known for It and John Wick: Chapter 4 — was confirmed as the game's lead actor at Xbox's Tokyo Game Show showcase on September 17, 2026. Even by optimistic estimates, Physint is still three to four years from release. Plenty of time for the platform picture to shift.
