Xbox picks up Kojima’s Physint after PlayStation dropped it | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchLightSystemDarkTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Xbox picks up Kojima’s Physint after PlayStation dropped itNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechXbox picks up Kojima’s Physint after PlayStation dropped itPhysint is Xbox’s second upcoming Kojima Productions games, joining OD.Physint is Xbox’s second upcoming Kojima Productions games, joining OD.by Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic PrestonSep 10, 2026, 8:22 AM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Xbox / Kojima ProductionsDominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism. He previously worked at Android Police and Tech Advisor.Xbox will now publish Physint, an upcoming game from Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, after PlayStation decided to cancel it.The unexpected swap came in a flurry of announcements from PlayStation, Xbox, Kojima Productions, and Kojima himself. Sony, which published both of Kojima Productions’ previous Death Stranding games, framed it as a “difficult decision to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions,” but insisted their “relationship remains strong.”Kojima put things more bluntly on his personal X account, claiming that Sony gave the studio an unexpected cancellation notice in June, and that it has spent the last three months “searching tirelessly” for a new publishing partner. He called Xbox “a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future.” It might have helped that the two companies are already working together, with Xbox lined up to publish the studio’s next game, OD.“Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life,” said Xbox CEO Asha Sharma in a statement. “We’re honored 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.” Securing a title of Physint’s stature reflects the priorities Sharma laid out in a memo to Xbox staff this summer, promising a focus on “our strongest franchises and biggest new ideas.”The Xbox announcement also notes that the relationship between the two companies will “extend beyond games,” with plans in the works across film and television, though no further details were given. Kojima Productions first announced plans for TV and film projects back in 2021, so far resulting in two upcoming Death Stranding adaptations: an animated spin-off called Mosquito and a live action adaptation from the director of Pig.Kojima calls Physint a “genre-defining action-espionage title,” prompting hopes that it will serve as a spiritual successor to his Metal Gear series, though it’s not expected to launch until at least 2030. OD also has no release date, but should arrive sooner — the horror title was announced in 2022, and a first trailer dropped this time last year.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic PrestonGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPlayStationClosePlayStationPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PlayStationSonyCloseSonyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SonyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechXboxCloseXboxPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All XboxMost PopularMost PopularThe iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldableHands-on with the foldable iPhone DuoApple’s iPhone 18 Pro has a dynamic aperture main cameraiPhone 18 live blog: On the ground at Apple’s biggest eventiPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Our first hands-on impressionsVideoThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Xbox has acquired the publishing rights for Hideo Kojima's upcoming game Physint following PlayStation's decision to cancel the project, marking this as Xbox's second forthcoming title from Kojima Productions, joining the existing commitment for OD. This unexpected shift occurred amidst joint announcements involving PlayStation, Xbox, Kojima Productions, and Kojima himself, which involved complex negotiations regarding the partnership. Sony characterized the cancellation as a difficult decision allowing them to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions, while simultaneously insisting that their overall relationship remained strong. Hideo Kojima elaborated on the situation on his personal social media, revealing that Sony provided the studio with an unanticipated cancellation notice in June and subsequently spent three months actively seeking a new publishing partner. He described Xbox as a collaborator with whom he shares a common vision for the future.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma articulated the rationale behind this acquisition, emphasizing that creators have autonomy in determining the direction and medium of their creative output. Sharma stated that Xbox was honored to be chosen by Kojima Productions to develop Physint, reflecting a commitment to supporting creativity that challenges conventions, aligning with Xbox's stated focus on its strongest franchises and most ambitious new ideas. Furthermore, the relationship between Xbox and Kojima Productions is expanding beyond gaming; there are ongoing plans for extensions into film and television projects. Kojima Productions had previously announced plans for adaptations of their Death Stranding games, including an animated spin-off titled Mosquito and a live-action adaptation based on the director of Pig.

Kojima has positioned Physint as a "genre-defining action-espionage title," suggesting expectations that it could serve as a spiritual successor to his Metal Gear series, although its anticipated release date is not expected until at least 2030. The project OD, another title from the same production, does not yet have a release date but is anticipated to be released sooner, having been announced in 2022 with a first trailer released the previous year. This transition underscores the strategic maneuvering between major gaming entities and creative developers regarding intellectual property management and future development trajectories.