In his first interview since Physint changed publishers, Hideo Kojima stated that despite Sony's decision to withdraw investment from the project, he still respects Sony. Kojima Productions also refuted recent reports regarding the commercial performance of Death Stranding, insisting that the studio is currently “operating healthily and is highly profitable.”
After Physint moved to Xbox, Hideo Kojima stated he does not know whether the game will be released on Sony's PlayStation platform, as the decision lies with the publisher, Xbox.
In an interview with IGN, Hideo Kojima revealed that while Sony's decision to cancel the Physint project caught him off guard, he holds no ill will toward Sony or any individual. He did not disclose who ultimately made the decision, but acknowledged that the gaming industry as a whole is facing difficult times.
Nevertheless, Hideo Kojima hinted that his relationship with Sony is not as close as it once was.“I worked with them for about 30 years... Mr. Ken Kutaragi and Mr. Hirai, I had close relationships with both of them. But things are different now. I realized, well, this is reality.”
Kojima continued, “Sony's decision to withdraw from this project was completely unexpected. So I thought, ‘What should I do tomorrow?’ But I personally love Sony. I hold no resentment toward them, because I understand that the gaming industry is currently facing tough times.”
Hideo Kojima confirmed that Xbox will serve as the new publisher for Physint and will decide its release platforms.
Recent reports have claimed that Sony terminated its partnership on Physint due to low sales of Death Stranding 2. Kojima Productions has denied these speculations and issued the following statement:
“You may have seen a recent article mentioning KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS and speculating about the reasons behind the change in publishing partners for PHYSINT.
Typically, we do not comment on unverified speculation online, but these accusations regarding our relationship with PlayStation, the commercial performance of the Death Stranding series, and the broader production planning and investment for PHYSINT have gone beyond the studio, affecting our fans, creative partners, and colleagues we have worked with for thirty years. None of the claims mentioned in these articles come from any official or formally recorded sources, so we encourage you to treat them with skepticism.
Please do not misunderstand; this is a serious situation for the studio, involving a series of potentially significant impacts. While we recognize that this article may have raised concerns, we would like to formally assure everyone:
The studio is currently in a healthy and profitable state. Development of PHYSINT is progressing steadily with Xbox, and our relationship with PlayStation remains strong.
Thank you for your continued support.
KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS.”
