Despite mounting anticipation surrounding Hideo Kojima’s next big title, Physint, fans may need to temper expectations on a release window. Based on current development timelines and internal discussions, Physint likely won’t arrive until 2030 at the earliest.

A Slow Burn Beginning

Announced during a surprise segment at PlayStation’s 2024 Showcase, Physint was positioned as Kojima’s return to the action-espionage genre—a spiritual successor to the Metal Gear Solid franchise. The announcement sparked immediate speculation, with many fans assuming that work on the title was already underway.

However, in multiple interviews since, Kojima has clarified that Physint is still in its early planning phases. Speaking at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show, Kojima confirmed that full-scale development would only begin after the completion of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which is currently targeting a 2025 or 2026 release.

“We’re building something that blends film and game in a new way,” Kojima said. “But we won’t truly begin work until DS2 is done.”

Development Not Yet in Full Swing

Sources close to Kojima Productions tell that Physint remains in pre-production. Concept art, storyboarding, and foundational technology decisions are being discussed, but a development team has not been fully assembled yet.

One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Right now, Kojima is laser-focused on DS2. Physint exists mostly as a vision—one that’s incredibly ambitious—but nothing concrete is in motion yet.”

This aligns with Kojima’s pattern of long development cycles. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was teased as early as 2012 and didn’t release until 2015. Death Stranding went from its 2016 announcement to a late 2019 launch, which by Kojima standards, was considered fast.

Sony’s Long-Term Play

Sony Interactive Entertainment is backing Physint, with the project confirmed as a PlayStation exclusive. Given PlayStation 6 rumours pointing toward a 2028 release window, Physint is widely believed to be a cross-generational title or even a full PS6 flagship game.

Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad previously speculated that Sony views Kojima’s next game as part of its long-term strategy to define the next console generation with strong first-party and second-party partnerships.

“Physint is less about the short-term console war,” Ahmad noted, “and more about building cinematic prestige experiences for the next decade.”

What We Know So Far

While official details remain scarce, Kojima has referred to Physint as “a game and a movie at the same time,” and has promised it will “evolve the spy-action genre.”

So far, we know:

• Physint is a narrative-heavy action-espionage title.
• It will likely utilize a new version of the Decima Engine, co-developed with Guerrilla Games.
• Kojima wants to blur the line between film and game, possibly involving real-time rendering techniques tied to cinema-like cinematography.
• The game is being built “with hardware evolution in mind,” possibly targeting PlayStation 6.

The Road Ahead

If full development doesn’t begin until late 2026 or 2027, a 2030 release window appears realistic—especially considering Kojima Productions’ reputation for perfectionism, iteration, and pushing tech boundaries.

While Physint remains shrouded in secrecy, fans hoping for a new Kojima espionage experience anytime soon should dial back their expectations. Based on all current signs, Physint is still several years away—and that’s assuming there are no delays.