Hideo Kojima PHYSINT is the new action-stealth IP from Kojima Productions in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment. It debuted during State of Play on January 31, 2024. Kojima pitched it as a hybrid experience—a game and a movie at the same time—with full-scale production scheduled to begin after Death Stranding 2: On the Beach ships.
PHYSINT marks Kojima’s return to espionage with an overtly cinematic vision powered by an enhanced Decima Engine. In September 2025 the studio revealed the first poster and initial cast (Don Lee/Ma Dong-seok, Charlee Fraser, Minami Hamabe), while Kojima reiterated a five-to-six-year runway—placing release around 2030 at the earliest. Below you’ll find status, technology, platforms (unconfirmed), and how it spiritually connects—without licensing ties—to Metal Gear.
What is PHYSINT? Next-gen “action-stealth”
Kojima describes PHYSINT as an action-stealth experience aimed at erasing the line between film and game, with near-photoreal visuals and a production pipeline that taps Sony’s film and music divisions. The announcement video was shot on the Sony/Columbia Pictures lot, underscoring that transmedia partnership.
Engine and technology
PHYSINT runs on an advanced Decima Engine (used in Horizon and Death Stranding), upgraded for hyper-real facial capture and environments. Anniversary materials referenced in-engine character work and ongoing collaboration with top-tier scanning/performance capture teams for lifelike results.
Current status and cast
• Official poster and first cast revealed in September 2025: Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), Charlee Fraser, Minami Hamabe.
• SAG-AFTRA (video games) strike impact across 2024–2025: Kojima acknowledged delays to casting and scanning workflows.
• Appearances: presence and key art at TGS 2025 and in the studio’s 10th-anniversary livestream.
Release window: set expectations
In May 2025 Kojima said PHYSINT was “five to six years” away. That places a realistic earliest window around 2030 (estimate). No platforms are confirmed. Press speculation points to PlayStation and a potential PS6-era timing, but that remains unconfirmed.
Transparency note: any mention of “PS6” is an assumption; neither Sony nor Kojima has listed hardware.
How it relates to Metal Gear (it doesn’t—new IP)
PHYSINT is not Metal Gear. It’s a new IP that answers fans’ appetite for tactical espionage vibes but carries no Konami license. Think spiritual successor in tone/gameplay philosophy rather than a direct continuation.
Quick comparison
| Aspect | PHYSINT | Metal Gear Solid |
| IP & rights | New Kojima Productions IP with SIE | Konami IP |
| Core genre | Action-stealth (hybrid film/game vision) | Tactical espionage action |
| Engine | Decima (enhanced) | FOX Engine / proprietary past engines |
| Platforms | Unconfirmed (PlayStation partnership) | Multiplatform (varies by entry) |
| Status | Pre-production/planning & casting | Established franchise |
Production roadmap
• Full production starts after DS2 ships.
• In parallel: the studio continues OD (cloud-powered horror) and an AR collaboration with Niantic, pointing to a strong R&D posture across narrative and ubiquitous experiences.
What makes it different?
- Hybrid vision: “a game and a movie at the same time.” The Columbia Pictures lot shoot and Sony cross-division support reinforce that ambition.
- Cutting-edge scanning: Decima + high-end facial/performance capture to anchor a premium, actor-driven production.
- Authorial direction: Kojima’s recurring themes—anti-war stance, human connection, critical use of AI—reframed within contemporary espionage. (Editorial synthesis; no official plot beats disclosed.)
Key timeline
• Jan 31, 2024 — Reveal at State of Play; partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment.
• 2024–2025 — SAG-AFTRA video-game strike impacts casting/scanning pipelines.
• May 19, 2025 — Kojima estimates 5–6 years to release.
• Sep 2025 — Poster & first casting (Don Lee, Charlee Fraser, Minami Hamabe) at TGS/10th-anniversary events.
Platforms and the PlayStation ecosystem
Official materials frame PHYSINT as a PlayStation collaboration, but no hardware is listed. Media suggest it aligns with the next console cycle due to scope and timing—again, not official (assumption).
Why it matters to the industry
PHYSINT accelerates the convergence of film, music, and games, sharing production pipelines and international casting. Sony acts as a transmedia partner, while Kojima pushes toward a format that may raise expectations for realism and cinematic language in espionage games.
FAQ (featured-snippet-ready)
- What is Hideo Kojima PHYSINT?
A next-gen action-stealth project by Kojima Productions with Sony that aims to blend film and game. - When is PHYSINT coming out?
Kojima estimated 5–6 years from May 2025. A realistic earliest window is ~2030 (estimate). - What engine does PHYSINT use?
An enhanced Decima Engine. - Who is confirmed in the cast?
Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), Charlee Fraser, Minami Hamabe (revealed September 2025). - Is it tied to Metal Gear?
No. It’s a new IP; a spiritual successor in vibe/gameplay, not a licensed continuation.
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