Xbox will publish Kojima Productions‘ upcoming title Physint after the developer “unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the Physint project” in mid-June.
Hideo Kojima said the studio was “determined to keep the project alive” and had been “tirelessly searching for a new partner.”
“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.”
PlayStation also issued a statement saying it had “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,” it said. “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.”
Kojima Productions and PlayStation announced their partnership for Physint in 2024. The game was originally planned as a platform exclusive.
The new partnership between Kojima Productions and Xbox was described by the platform holder’s CEO Asha Sharma as “a big moment for Xbox.“
Alongside publishing Physint, the two companies will also collaborate on “future storytelling opportunities across games, film, and television.”
“Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life,” said Sharma. “We’re honoured 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.”
Kojima added: “This expands our relationship with Xbox beyond OD. As we move forward with the development of Physint, we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world.”
