Hideo Kojima Unsure Whether ‘Physint’ Will Reach PS5 or Use Sony’s Decima Engine

Creator Hideo Kojima has opened up about the lingering uncertainties surrounding his upcoming tactical espionage title, Physint, admitting he does not yet know whether the game will arrive on PlayStation 5 or continue using Sony’s Decima engine. Speaking to IGN, Kojima addressed a cluster of questions that emerged after Sony unexpectedly withdrew from publishing the project in June, prompting Kojima Productions to secure Xbox as its new funding and publishing partner for what many consider the spiritual successor to Metal Gear.

The transition from PlayStation to Microsoft’s platform has left fans with more open-ended questions than answers. While the deal guarantees continued development of the long-rumored project, it has not clarified two fundamental details: which consoles will ultimately receive the game, and whether Kojima Productions will abandon the proprietary engine that powered Death Stranding in favor of new technology offered by Xbox.

A Platform Question Left to Microsoft

The most immediate concern for players is availability. With Sony out of the picture, Physint’s platform strategy now falls under Microsoft’s purview, and Kojima declined to speculate on an answer he says only Xbox can provide. “I don’t know the answer to that – that would be a question for Xbox,” Kojima told IGN. He pointed to earlier signals from Microsoft suggesting a broad release philosophy: “In previous updates from Xbox, I thought that they have this kind of stance where they want to deliver to as many gamers as possible, no matter what the platform is.”

However, that openness has not been consistent across Microsoft’s recent history. The company pursued a multiplatform approach for several years before shifting direction with new CEO Asha Sharma’s arrival at the start of this year. Xbox has since returned to an exclusivity-focused strategy, most recently confirming that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will skip PlayStation entirely. Yet some titles, including Forza Horizon 6 and a new Fable entry, remain in development for PS5, leaving room for optimism regarding Physint’s eventual reach.

“I think all of that will be announced at a later time. I’m not sure yet, and I can really say.”

Hideo Kojima

The Decima Engine Dilemma

Beyond platforms lies an equally pressing technical question: which engine will power Physint? When Kojima departed Konami to form his independent studio, he spent considerable time searching for the right tools to build what would become Death Stranding. The winner was a powerful internal engine developed by Guerrilla Games, creator of the Horizon series, handed over to Kojima Productions on the condition that his team continue contributing to its evolution. After extensive modifications, the two parties officially named it Decima.

Now, with Sony no longer involved, Kojima says he has not committed to continuing with that engine. “Well, I haven’t really decided yet. I’m still experimenting,” he explained when asked whether a switch was necessary after Sony dropped the project. He described being deeply impressed by Microsoft’s technical resources during earlier visits.

“After we decided to team up with Xbox, they said they will give us a lot of technological support… I was really surprised. I was thinking, ‘There are so many Doc Browns from Back to the Future here!’ So I want to use all this new technology.”

Hideo Kojima

Kojima added that he intends to leverage whatever cutting-edge tools Microsoft offers while remaining undecided about the engine itself. “Anything that I can use, I want to use, and I’m looking forward to teaming up with Xbox, but I really haven’t decided about the engine.”

Looking Ahead

The studio’s current project may offer a hint about its technical direction. Kojima Productions’ next title, OD: Knock, which is also funded by Xbox, is being developed on Unreal Engine 5 rather than Decima. That precedent suggests Physint could follow suit with Epic Games’ widely used engine, though nothing has been confirmed.