Xbox is paying far less than US$400 million for Kojima's Physint
Xbox will pay only a fraction of the reported US$400 million to fund Hideo Kojima's Physint.
That update comes from journalist Christopher Dring of The Game Business, who first reported the US$400 million figure. He has since clarified that Xbox is likely paying quite a bit less than the sum Kojima had originally quoted to Sony, according to a report published on 27 September 2026 Eurogamer.
Dring said he had heard budget figures ranging from US$300 million to US$600 million, with US$400 million as the commonly cited number. Two other reporters have pushed the same way. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier said his sources described Microsoft's negotiated figure as significantly less than US$400 million. Windows Central's Jez Corden reported that Xbox is paying only a fraction of that sum. Neither Schreier nor Corden gave an actual dollar figure.
Physint is an action-espionage title from Kojima Productions, described as a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, the stealth series Kojima created. It was originally announced as a PlayStation project.
Sony then stepped back. After months of negotiation, Sony pulled its Physint funding after the project exceeded budget and missed deadlines, according to the same report. That decision to walk away from publishing was made in June. After the withdrawal, Kojima convinced Xbox to pick up funding and publishing.
The Xbox deal is wider than one game. It includes movie and TV licensing rights for Physint, plus improved terms for OD, Kojima's in-development horror game for Xbox. A publishing deal is an agreement where a publisher funds development and handles release in return for a share of revenue and, at times, rights beyond the game.
On the official record, Xbox and Kojima Productions announced an expanded partnership to publish Physint on 9 September 2026 Xbox. Kojima Productions describes the arrangement as a creative strategic partnership and says its journey with Physint continues with Xbox. The studio added that the game has the full support of Xbox and will use cutting-edge technology and a stellar cast Kojima Productions. On 17 September 2026, it confirmed Bill Skarsgård in the lead role.
Kojima Productions has urged caution around the behind-the-scenes account. It asked players to treat the report on why Physint moved from PlayStation to Xbox with a dose of scepticism Video Games Chronicle.
OD remains part of the picture. The horror project reportedly survived Microsoft's 100-day reset of its games business and remains in development Windows Central.
What makes this stand out is the recognised pattern. Big budgets get quoted early. Final deals look different. For fans, this means two things are firm: Xbox is the publisher, and Skarsgård leads the cast. The exact price is not.
