Physint: Xbox deal reportedly under $400 million
New reports say Microsoft’s deal for Hideo Kojima’s Physint is far below earlier budget rumors, with possible film and TV rights also mentioned.
- The earlier estimate of around $400 million has not been confirmed; later reports even suggest a figure possibly under $200 million.
- The reporting also mentions a broader agreement that could include film and TV adaptations, but that has not been officially confirmed.
What happened
IGN reported that Microsoft/Xbox secured the deal for Hideo Kojima’s Physint for an amount that is said to be significantly lower than Xbox’s usual spending on a premium game. The publication tied that to a profile in The New York Times and to comments Kojima made about the collaboration. No exact contract value was given, so this remains reported information rather than an officially confirmed figure.
That reporting lines up with earlier online rumors of a budget of around $400 million, but later reports say that number has not been confirmed. GameSpot then reported that Xbox may be paying “far, far less” for Physint, with an estimate that could even be below $200 million. That figure has also not been officially confirmed by Microsoft, Kojima Productions, or Sony.
The sources also describe a deal that may extend beyond game publishing alone. Kojima is said to have indicated that Microsoft is not only funding a game, but also considering film, anime, and a new IP. Other reports explicitly mention that the agreement could include film and TV rights, though public contract details are still unavailable.
Timeline
2026-09-09: Xbox and Kojima Productions officially announce that Xbox is the new partner for Physint and that the collaboration is expanding.
2026-09-10: External reporting says Xbox has taken over the publishing rights for Physint from Sony and that Sony had previously dropped the project.
2026-09-27: GAME-scanner reports on the online rumors around a $400 million budget and raises questions about it.
2026-09-30: IGN reports that the Xbox deal for Physint is well below typical premium-game spending.
2026-10-01: Later reporting suggests a possible deal value under $200 million and mentions possible film and TV adaptations.
Background
Physint is being described in the sources as a major Kojima project now tied to Xbox. The official announcement only confirms that Xbox is the new partner and that the collaboration with Kojima Productions is expanding; no concrete figures have been released.
The available reports also point to a broader IP setup. Alongside the game, film, television, and anime are mentioned as possible parts of the deal or the plans around the project. At the same time, it remains unclear whether those rights have already been contractually locked in or are still being discussed.
Sony’s role is also not fully explained in the provided sources. Several reports say Sony had previously dropped or canceled the project, but without an official explanation for why or for the exact legal form of that change. As a result, the exact transition from PlayStation to Xbox still depends on reporting.
Related GAME-scanner articles
Sources
- IGN: Microsoft's deal for Hideo Kojima's Physint 'substantially below' what Xbox would typically spend to develop a premium game
- GameSpot: Xbox is paying a lot less than normal for Kojima's Physint, possibly under $200 million
- Official announcement from Xbox and Kojima Productions about Physint
- The New York Times profile of Asha Sharma, as cited by IGN