Kojima Productions has confirmed Xbox as its new partner for PHYSINT, with Sony Interactive Entertainment stepping away from its collaboration on the action-espionage project. The agreement expands Xbox and Kojima Productions’ existing relationship beyond OD. Their collaboration will also extend into film and television, with plans to bring new stories to broader audiences. This, as one can imagine, has gotten quite a lot of interest online.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the partnership reflects the company’s interest in supporting Kojima’s creative ambitions:
Creators have choices about where and how they bring their ideas to life. 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.
Game creator and Kojima Productions founder Hideo Kojima said development would continue with the studio’s ambitions for the genre intact:
This expands our relationship with XBOX beyond OD. As we move forward with the development of PHYSINT, we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world.
PlayStation Studios addressed its departure in a statement from PlayStation Studios, expressing continued support for Kojima’s work and an intention to collaborate in the future:
After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on its project PHYSINT. We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima’s vision for the game. Our relationship remains strong after three decades of industry-leading, genre-defining creative cooperation, and we look forward to continued close collaboration with Hideo Kojima and his award-winning independent studio in the future.
Kojima Productions also issued a separate statement on the new partnership:
Today, we are excited to confirm that our journey with PHYSINT continues with Asha and the team at XBOX. XBOX understands and shares our bold creative vision, and this expands our relationship with XBOX beyond OD. As we move forward with the development of PHYSINT, we remain committed to redefining the action-espionage genre for players around the world.
