Xbox is reportedly paying a “fraction” of the $400 million Kojima quoted Sony for Physint
A reported $400 million development budget for Hideo Kojima’s stealth-action game Physint has been significantly scaled back following clarification from industry reporters. The figure, initially cited as Xbox’s investment in the project, was later confirmed to be substantially lower than the $400 million that Kojima had reportedly quoted to Sony when the game was still in development as a PlayStation exclusive.
Christopher Dring, who originally reported the $400 million figure, clarified that he had heard budget estimates ranging from $300 million to $600 million in Tokyo gaming circles, with $400 million being the most commonly cited—though this represented what Kojima quoted Sony, not necessarily Xbox’s actual deal. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and other industry insiders subsequently reported that Xbox’s publishing agreement involves considerably less than the originally quoted amount, though the exact figure remains undisclosed.
The game, a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, maintains significant production values with Hollywood actor Bill Skarsgård in a lead role. The budget speculation emerged during turbulent times for Xbox, as Microsoft announced major developer layoffs shortly after securing the Physint publishing deal. While the precise budget remains unknown, industry consensus suggests it is still in the nine-figure range—substantially less than the initial claim but reflecting the considerable investment in this high-profile project.