Xbox's Budget for Kojima's Physint Reportedly Lower Than $400 Million
Written with artificial intelligence.
Recent reports indicate that Xbox is paying significantly less than the initially quoted $400 million for Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint. The figure was clarified by multiple sources following its original announcement, suggesting a more modest budget for the project.
Budget Clarification
The anticipated budget for Hideo Kojima's game Physint has been revised down from an initial estimate of $400 million. This figure was originally stated by Christopher Dring on his podcast, where he mentioned Xbox's deal with Kojima Productions for the stealth game. However, subsequent clarifications suggest that the actual amount Xbox is paying is considerably lower.
Sources Weigh In
Dring later updated his comments on X/Twitter, indicating that the payment is likely to be 'quite a bit less' than the quoted amount. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier echoed this sentiment, stating that Microsoft's negotiated figure is significantly reduced from the initial $400 million estimate. Additionally, Windows Central's Jez Corden referred to the payment as only a 'fraction' of the original figure, although specific numbers have not been disclosed.
Project Background
Physint, which serves as a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, was initially developed as a PlayStation exclusive. Sony reportedly withdrew its funding after the project faced budget overruns and missed deadlines. Following this, Kojima managed to secure support from Xbox to continue the game's development.
Licensing and Future Plans
The deal between Kojima Productions and Xbox includes movie and TV licensing rights for Physint and favorable terms for Kojima's other project, a horror game titled OD. Although Xbox has committed to exclusives, some titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Fable are still in development for PlayStation 5, leaving the future of Physint somewhat uncertain. Kojima remarked that announcements regarding these developments will come at a later date.