TOKYO, September 13 — Hideo Kojima, the Japanese game designer behind the Metal Gear and Death Stranding franchises, has moved his upcoming espionage-themed game Physint from PlayStation to Xbox, according to a developing story reported on Sunday. The shift marks a significant change for the project, which was originally announced in January 2024 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Kojima Productions, the studio Kojima founded in December 2015 after his departure from Konami, is now working with a new publishing partner on the Xbox platform.
The move comes as Kojima also plots television and film projects tied to the new partnership, expanding his reach beyond video games into broader entertainment.
What Physint was meant to be
Physint, described by Kojima as a next-generation action-espionage game, was initially revealed during a PlayStation State of Play broadcast in January 2024. At the time, Kojima said the project would blend the interactive elements of a game with the cinematic presentation of a film, and that it would challenge the boundaries of the medium. The game was expected to enter full production after Kojima Productions completed Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which was released for PlayStation 5 in June 2025.
Death Stranding, Kojima’s first independent project after leaving Konami, was released in November 2019 for PlayStation 4 and later for PC. A director’s cut followed in September 2021.
The game starred Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, and Guillermo del Toro, and was published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. A sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, was announced in December 2022 and released on June 26, 2025.
A designer drawn to film
Kojima has long expressed interest in filmmaking. In 2023, he announced that a Death Stranding film was in development with Hammerstone Studios, and he has cited filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick and John Carpenter as influences. The new publishing partner for Physint has not been officially named in the story, but the move to Xbox suggests a deal with Microsoft or a third-party publisher.
Microsoft has previously collaborated with Kojima Productions on the cloud-based game OD, which was announced in June 2022. OD is described as a horror game that explores fear and uses cloud technology.
Kojima Productions has also been linked to a Death Stranding movie adaptation and other transmedia projects. The shift of Physint to Xbox could signal a broader strategy by Kojima to diversify his partnerships and reach new audiences.
Fans, and a changing console market
The original announcement of Physint in January 2024 was met with excitement from fans, who noted the game’s potential to combine Kojima’s signature storytelling with espionage action. The move to Xbox may also reflect changing dynamics in the console market, where exclusivity deals are increasingly fluid. Neither Sony Interactive Entertainment nor Microsoft has commented publicly on the reported shift.
Kojima Productions has not issued an official statement. The story is developing, and further details about the new publishing partner, the TV and film projects, and the release timeline for Physint are expected to emerge in the coming months.
Kojima’s career spans over three decades, beginning at Konami in 1986, where he created the Metal Gear series in 1987. He left Konami in 2015 and founded Kojima Productions as an independent studio. His work is known for its cinematic style, complex narratives, and innovative gameplay mechanics.
The potential move of Physint to Xbox would be a notable shift for a designer whose recent major titles have been closely associated with PlayStation. What to watch next: confirmation of the publishing partner, the shape of the television and film projects attached to the deal, and any word from Sony or Microsoft on the reported change.
