Kojima Productions’ “Physint” Finds New Publisher After Sony Pulls Funding

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Kojima Productions' "Physint" Finds New Publisher After Sony Pulls Funding

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In mid-June, Sony delivered unexpected news to Kojima Productions, announcing its decision to cease funding for “Physint,” an upcoming espionage game. This decision came as a shock to celebrated game director Hideo Kojima, who expressed concern about the studio’s future and its nearly 200 employees. Kojima stated he was “just shocked and surprised,” and his initial thought was about the potential collapse of his independent studio if funding was not secured.

Kojima Productions president Shinji Hirano recalled being “totally blank” after the Zoom call where Sony delivered the news, but marveled at Kojima’s immediate return to work. Sony had previously announced its funding of “Physint” two years prior, marking Kojima’s return to the espionage genre. The split became widely known in early September, surprising the gaming world.

While Sony did not provide a reason for the cancellation, reports from anonymous sources suggested concerns over the game’s budget, development schedule, potential profitability, and exclusivity. Some reports also indicated that Kojima’s previous Sony console exclusives, *Death Stranding* and *Death Stranding 2: On The Beach*, did not meet Sony’s revenue expectations. Kojima Productions, however, urged skepticism regarding these unconfirmed reasons.

Following the cancellation, Kojima Productions spent approximately three months seeking a new publishing partner. The studio ultimately found a new home for “Physint” with Microsoft’s Xbox, which was already collaborating with Kojima Productions on another project, the horror game “OD.” Kojima expressed that he harbors no animosity towards Sony, acknowledging that “corporations are like living things” and that the gaming industry is currently facing challenging times. He emphasized that the studio remains in a “healthy, profitable state” and that development for “Physint” is moving forward with Xbox.

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