Hideo Kojima is advancing two new projects under an Xbox publishing agreement, one of which is a return to tactical espionage themes tentatively titled Physint. The game remains years from release, with Kojima confirming in 2025 that it is still in a conceptual phase while he focuses on his horror project OD. No official timeline has been provided, though industry observers suggest a potential launch as early as 2030.

Xbox will handle publishing and development support for Physint, though the specific platform remains unspecified. Given the project's scale and Kojima's history with technically ambitious titles, a next-generation console or PC release appears likely. The collaboration marks a shift from Kojima's previous partnership with Sony, which ended without public explanation. A Bloomberg report indicated internal concerns about Physint's development trajectory prior to the publisher change, including missed deadlines and budget overruns.

The cast features actors Bill Skarsgard, Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe, all confirmed through casting announcements. Kojima described the collaboration as a mutual admiration between creator and performers, citing costume fittings and motion capture tests conducted earlier in the year as validation of the project's direction. The game's visual ambitions were outlined in a recent HideoTube segment, where Kojima stated his goal of creating an experience so cinematic that casual observers might mistake gameplay for film.

Physint is described by Kojima as a spiritual evolution of Metal Gear Solid concepts, born from fan interest in revisiting tactical espionage themes. The project emerged after Kojima recovered from a COVID-19 illness and responded to audience requests for a new Metal Gear experience. Development continues under Xbox's support, with Kojima affirming that progress remains active despite the publisher transition. No additional details about gameplay mechanics or narrative structure have been disclosed beyond the project's conceptual framework and casting announcements.