Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 20
Sony Halts Funding for Kojima's 'Physint' in June, Threatening Studio Collapse
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 20

Sony Halts Funding for Kojima's 'Physint' in June, Threatening Studio Collapse

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 20

Summary

  • A mid-June Zoom call brought Kojima Productions the news that Sony would stop funding “Physint,” the espionage game Hideo Kojima had been developing with the company.
  • Hideo Kojima said studio executives wrestled with the cancellation for months before it became public, fearing the loss of backing could cause the studio to collapse.
  • Shinji Hirano, the studio’s president, said he was struck by how quickly Kojima returned to work after the call, underscoring the shock inside the company.
  • The split severs Sony’s support for one of the industry’s most anticipated projects and leaves Kojima Productions facing uncertainty over how, or whether, “Physint” moves forward.

Insights

Why did Sony abruptly abandon a legendary creator's passion project after nearly thirty years of successful collaboration?
Did a secret battle over lucrative multimedia rights force Microsoft to rescue Kojima's most ambitious game yet?