PlayStation Cut Kojima's Spy Game Over Budget Bloat, Report Claims
Sony reportedly pulled the plug on Hideo Kojima's PlayStation-exclusive spy game Physint because the project was burning through cash and falling behind schedule. According to a Bloomberg report cited by IGN and VGC, the game was already forecast to blow past its budget and was missing key development milestones, even though it was still several years from launching.
The financial underperformance of Kojima's previous games, the Death Stranding series, was another major factor in Sony's decision, per the report. While the first game made money, its sequel failed to build on that commercial success, with sales reportedly slowing to a trickle.
The high-profile failure of PlayStation's live-service shooter Concord also played a role. VGC reports that flop led Sony to impose stricter production controls, which Physint could not meet.
Microsoft has now stepped in to fund and publish Physint for Xbox. An Xbox spokesperson called betting on Kojima "an easy call," according to VGC. The deal also includes rights for potential film and TV adaptations.
This publisher switch follows Kojima's own announcement that Sony unexpectedly canceled the project in June. The game, described as a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, is now a major get for Xbox.
