Hideo Kojima’s highly anticipated espionage project Physint is taking an unexpected turn. Originally announced as a major collaboration between Kojima Productions and PlayStation, the game will now be published by Xbox. Microsoft confirmed the new agreement as part of an expanded partnership with the legendary creator behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. Xbox is already working with Kojima Productions on OD, the studio’s mysterious horror project, but the relationship will now extend to Physint and potentially other entertainment initiatives involving film and television.

According to Kojima, the change of publisher follows PlayStation Studios’ decision to cancel its involvement with Physint earlier this year. Rather than abandon a project considered strategically important for both himself and Kojima Productions, the Japanese creator spent several months searching for a new partner. Discussions with multiple companies eventually led back to Microsoft, with Kojima explaining that Xbox shared his long-term vision for the project. Development is therefore continuing, with the studio still aiming to create a new benchmark for the action-espionage genre. PlayStation, meanwhile, confirmed the end of its involvement while stressing that its long-standing relationship with Kojima remains intact.

The move represents a significant symbolic victory for Xbox. Under CEO Asha Sharma, who succeeded Phil Spencer earlier in 2026, Microsoft has been attempting to rebuild the Xbox brand around major creators, distinctive first-party experiences and a renewed focus on console exclusives. Physint now joins projects such as Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution in that strategy. OD is expected to arrive before Kojima’s espionage title, which remains several years away from release. Kojima previously estimated that Physint could require another five or six years of production, although development has gradually accelerated as work on its technology, characters and casting expands.

Very little is currently known about Physint itself, and even its name remains provisional. Kojima describes the project as an interactive action-espionage experience designed to blur the boundaries between video games and cinema, combining advanced technology with talent from both industries. Charlee Fraser, Don Lee and Minami Hamabe have already been confirmed as members of the cast, while speculation continues surrounding other potential stars, including Robert Pattinson. Kojima Productions has also suggested that the technology powering Physint will go beyond what the studio has achieved with Death Stranding and OD. With Xbox now backing the project, one of Kojima’s most ambitious ideas has entered a completely new chapter.