Kojima: Sony stopped funding PHYSINT in June
Hideo Kojima says Sony Interactive Entertainment ended PHYSINT funding in a June Zoom call, and he still doesn’t know why.
- Kojima says he was surprised by the decision and still does not know why Sony made the move.
- According to the reporting provided, Xbox later took over publishing and/or financing for PHYSINT, though the exact terms have not been disclosed.
What happened
IGN reports that Kojima said in an exclusive interview that Sony informed him in June during a Zoom call that funding for PHYSINT was being halted. According to Kojima, Kojima Productions president Shinji Hirano and head of talent development Aki Saito were also present for the call. At the time, Kojima was reportedly also working on OD for Xbox.
Kojima says the news caught him off guard and that he could not process it right away. Kotaku writes that he still does not know why Sony made the decision. The supplied articles mention possible reasons such as budget, profitability, and exclusivity, but none of those have been confirmed by Sony or Kojima himself.
The sources also say Xbox later took over publishing for PHYSINT. How that partnership is structured, including distribution or platform details, is not clear from the available information. Kojima does say he continues to speak positively about Sony and does not hold a grudge.
Timeline
January 2024: Sony and Kojima Productions announce PHYSINT as a new stealth-action project for PlayStation.
June 2026: Sony reportedly tells Kojima in a Zoom call that funding for PHYSINT is ending; Shinji Hirano and Aki Saito are present.
June 2026: Kojima is also reportedly working on OD for Xbox, according to the same interview.
September 2026: The supplied reporting says Xbox Game Studios has taken over publishing for PHYSINT.
September 2026: Kojima says he still does not know why Sony ended funding and that he continues to view Sony positively.
Background
PHYSINT was announced in January 2024 as a new Kojima Productions project for PlayStation. The current reporting is about the funding and publishing of that project, not a formal public cancellation by Sony. That distinction matters, because the sources mainly refer to Kojima’s account of an internal June conversation rather than a detailed official statement from Sony.
Kotaku says Kojima Productions has around 200 employees. That makes PHYSINT’s funding relevant to the studio as a whole, especially since Kojima was also reportedly working on OD for Xbox at the same time. The supplied articles also note that Kojima has no bad feelings toward Sony and that the PlayStation relationship remains strong despite the shift around PHYSINT.
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Sources
- IGN: Hideo Kojima Reveals What Happened With Sony in Exclusive First Interview Since PlayStation Ditched Physint
- Kotaku: Hideo Kojima Says Sony Canceled Physint Over a Zoom Call, and He Still Doesn't Know the Reason Why