Kojima Demanded 'Significant' Budget From Sony for Physint Before Xbox Pickup

Hideo Kojima reportedly requested a significant budget from Sony to develop Physint, the stealth action game that will star Bill Skarsgard. The financial demands, combined with concerns over the project's progress and timeline, contributed to PlayStation's decision to withdraw from the partnership earlier this month.

Journalist Jason Schreier, reporting for Bloomberg, revealed details about the negotiations in a recent video. He explained that discussions between Sony and Kojima Productions had extended over months, covering "the future of the project, about the budget of the project, about the timeline, about extensions, about exclusivity, and ultimately it didn't lead to a satisfying result."

Schreier noted that multiple sources at Tokyo Game Show asked him about Kojima's asking price. "The rumoured number I have not confirmed but it was pretty significant," Schreier said. "That said, it doesn't mean Xbox was willing to pay that much, and in fact I think Xbox is paying less than Kojima had been asking for from PlayStation."

PlayStation's withdrawal appeared to be driven partly by the financial ask, but also by internal changes. Key executives who negotiated the original 2024 deal, including Jim Ryan, have since retired. Schreier suggested Sony was concerned about whether the arrangement justified the investment, particularly given that Kojima Productions retains IP ownership and plans to release Physint across multiple platforms after an exclusivity window.

Kojima Productions responded to Bloomberg's reporting with skepticism, issuing a statement last week encouraging fans to approach the claims "with a dose of scepticism." The studio has not disclosed its budget requirements publicly.

Following PlayStation's exit, Xbox acquired the project in what was widely seen as a significant win for the platform. Development remains early, with Kojima Productions still evaluating game engines after Guerrilla's proprietary Decima appears to have been ruled out.