For the first time, Kojima Productions responded in detail to reports that appeared on the Internet about terminating cooperation with PlayStation. First. The studio confirmed the seriousness of the situation but urged not to take the circulating information about the cause of the conflict and the company’s financial situation as a given. In the meantime, the developers assured fans that their situation is stable and that work on PHYSINT continues with support from Xbox.
This story happened in September, when Sony decided to stop funding PHYSINT. The project was initially developed with game console It’s supposed to be Hideo Kojima’s return to the spy-action genre, which the series is mostly associated with metal gear. After Sony’s decision, Kojima Productions spent months searching for a new partner, eventually reaching a deal with Microsoft. On September 9, Xbox officially announced that it would become the publisher of PHYSINT.
According to her own words kojima production co., ltd.the publications that appeared after this news immediately touched on several topics: the studio’s relationship with PlayStation, the commercial results of the series death strandingas well as the budget and production organization of PHYSINT. The developer emphasizes that the information contained in such materials does not come from official or publicly speaking representatives of the company and therefore requires caution.
At the same time, the studio did not deny the seriousness of the incident. Instead, the statement noted that Sony’s decision could have a significant impact on Kojima Productions. However, things have changed now: the company claims to be in a healthy and profitable position, with PHYSINT’s growth in Xboxand the relationship with PlayStation remains good.
Later, Hideo Kojima told the Washington Post in more detail what happened. According to him, this decision sony This took him by surprise, and he was concerned about the future of his studio and its staff after the funding ended. Kojima Productions has already hired some talent specifically for PHYSINT, so canceling the project could cause serious problems for the team. After the incident, the developers began looking for a new publisher, and Microsoft proved to be one of the natural choices due to existing horror collaborations of.
Kojima himself said that Sony did not explain to him the specific reasons for refusing further funding. Before Bloomberg According to the report, factors may include budgetary issues, development timelines, business expectations and the project’s lack of PlayStation exclusivity guarantees. However, Kojima Productions characterized these information as unconfirmed reports, so the final reason for Sony’s decision has not been made public.
Meanwhile, PHYSINT continues to take shape. On September 17, Kojima Productions officially announced that Bill Skarsgård will star in the game. The actor joins previously announced cast members including Charlie Fraser, Don Lee and Minami Hamabe. According to Hideo Kojima, the team has already conducted costume fittings, scans, and photo tests with Skarsgård.
It’s unclear whether PHYSINT will appear on PlayStation consoles. Xbox officially announced itself as the game’s publisher, but did not reveal a platform list or declare exclusivity. Therefore, it’s too early to say that the project will definitely become an Xbox exclusive.
PHYSINT also has no release date. According to Kojima, production is still in a relatively early stage: the team has prepared concepts and plots, created 3D models and worked with actors, but the final engine to be used has not yet been selected.
However, after an unexpected intervention Microsoft Not only did the project avoid complete cancellation, it also continued production. Now that PHYSINT is still a long way from release, more details about Hideo Kojima’s new espionage action game will likely be revealed as development progresses.