Hideo Kojima Reveals Unexpected Break With Sony Over PHYSINT

WHO:

The Washington Post - Shinji Hirano, president of Kojima Productions, expressed surprise at the funding cut.

The Washington Post - Hideo Kojima, director of Kojima Productions

The Washington Post - Shinji Hirano, president of Kojima Productions

TechPowerUp - Sony, a tech giant

WHAT:

TechPowerUp - Kojima Productions stated that the studio could face significant challenges if they lose the contract for "Physint," including potential layoffs and cash flow issues.

The Washington Post - Sony announced it would stop funding Kojima Productions' next project, "Physint."

TechPowerUp - The budget for the game "Death Stranding 2" (DS2) was approximately $150 million, and it took a full year to break even.

WHERE:

The Washington Post - The announcement was made during a Zoom call.

WHEN:

The Washington Post - The Zoom call occurred in mid-June.

WHY:

The Washington Post - Hirano noted that he believed "Physint" was safe and was surprised by the funding cut, indicating concerns about the studio's future.

TechPowerUp - The decision to stop funding was not accompanied by any explanation from Sony.

HOW:

The Washington Post - After the Zoom call, Kojima quickly returned to work, demonstrating his commitment to the project despite the setback.

The Washington Post - The announcement was made via a Zoom call.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 05:00 UTC)

Shinji Hirano, president of Kojima Productions, expressed surprise at a recent funding cut that could jeopardize their contract for "Physint." The studio warned that losing this contract might lead to significant challenges, including potential layoffs and cash flow issues. Despite the setback, Hirano quickly returned to work after a Zoom call, showing his commitment to the project and the future of the studio.

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(UPDATED September 21, 2026 04:00 UTC)

In a significant development, Sony has announced that it will stop funding Kojima Productions' next project, "Physint," during a Zoom call held in mid-June. The budget for the highly anticipated "Death Stranding 2" was around $150 million, and it took a full year for the game to break even. Notably, the decision to halt funding came without any explanation from Sony, leaving many in the industry surprised.