Brief Overview
- Hideo Kojima says Sony ended its support for Physint during a sudden Zoom call in June, with no reason given.
- The shock news left Kojima worried about his studio’s future, including possible layoffs and bank loan issues.
- After three months of searching, Kojima Productions found a new partner in Xbox to keep Physint alive.
Legendary game creator Hideo Kojima has spoken out about how Sony ended its support for his upcoming game Physint. He says the news came suddenly, during a Zoom call in June, and that Sony gave him no clear reason.
For months, there were no statements regarding this issue, but now we know why it all happened.
How the Call Happened
Kojima said Sony asked for a Zoom meeting in June while he was busy travelling. He had just come from a Prada event in New York and was heading to Los Angeles. And when he returned, they had the call.
During the call, Sony told him it could no longer fund Physint’s development. Kojima said he was shocked and could not quite process what he heard.
He mentioned he did not expect Physint to be one of the projects affected, since so many other studios and games were already being hit by industry cutbacks.
On top of that, he said he thought the project was safe, so the news came as a surprise, and he also did not understand the reason behind it.
No Explanation Given
Kojima admitted he did not ask many questions during the call itself. He also said Sony has not been in touch with him since that meeting.
He was joined on the call by Kojima Productions president Shinji Hirano and head of talent development Aki Saito.
He did not reveal who represented Sony on the call, or whether PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst was the one who delivered the decision.
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Worries About the Studio
The sudden decision left Kojima worried about the future of his studio.
Kojima Productions employs roughly 200 people, and he began thinking about problems like bank loans and possible layoffs for staff who had been hired specifically for Physint.
He has said in the past that he had borrowed money from the bank to help fund the studio, and that if people found out a project had been stopped, the studio could be in big trouble.
Search for a New Partner
After losing Sony’s backing, Kojima Productions spent the following months looking for a new partner to keep Physint alive.
The studio eventually reached a deal with Xbox, which was already working with Kojima on another game called OD.
Different Reports on the Reason
Kojima’s interview took place before a Bloomberg report came out about the split.
That report claimed Physint was running behind schedule and going over budget. It also claimed that Death Stranding 2 did not meet Sony’s sales expectations.
Kojima Productions has pushed back on those claims, calling them unverifiable and saying the studio remains healthy and profitable.
Not a Falling Out
Despite the sudden split, Kojima stressed that there is no dispute between him and Sony. The two sides worked together for close to 30 years.
He said he still respects PlayStation and hopes their relationship stays strong, even though he wishes he had learned about the decision a little earlier.
When asked if Physint could still come to a Sony platform one day, Kojima said he was not sure and that it was really a question for Xbox to answer.
FAQs
Is Kojima Productions still working with Sony?
Kojima says there is no dispute with Sony, but the company has not contacted him since the June call.
Why did Sony end its partnership with Hideo Kojima on PHYSINT?
Kojima says Sony gave no clear reason, though earlier reports claimed the game was over budget and behind schedule.
What happened during the Zoom call between Kojima and Sony?
Sony told Kojima it could no longer fund Physint, leaving him too shocked to process the news at first.
Who will publish PHYSINT after Sony’s exit?
Xbox will now publish Physint after Kojima Productions secured the deal following a three-month search for a new partner.
