Reports that Xbox committed $400 million to Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT are being challenged by Jason Schreier and Windows Central’s Jez Corden. Both journalists say sources familiar with the agreement put Microsoft’s commitment substantially below the figure circulating online.
The new reporting pushes back on the rumored deal value, although PHYSINT’s exact budget and eventual development cost remain unclear.
In brief:
- Jason Schreier says an Xbox source told him PHYSINT was signed for significantly less than $400 million.
- Windows Central separately reports a much lower figure, citing sources with direct knowledge of the contracts.
- Schreier cautioned that several different financial figures have been discussed around the project.
- Xbox’s agreed deal value should be distinguished from what PHYSINT ultimately costs to complete.
Jason Schreier Challenges PHYSINT’s $400 Million Xbox Claim
The discussion followed a claim from The Game Business’s Chris Dring that PHYSINT’s budget at Xbox was reportedly around $400 million.
Responding on ResetEra, Schreier said he was reluctant to provide exact numbers without documentation or corroboration from multiple firsthand sources. However, he shared what one person familiar with the agreement had told him:
“All that said, someone at Xbox with firsthand knowledge of the deal told me that they signed Physint for significantly less than this.”
Schreier also explained why the numbers need context. The original PlayStation agreement, later budget projections, negotiations, potential A-list casting arrangements, Xbox’s agreement, and the game’s eventual total cost could all involve different amounts.
His comments challenge the figure attached to Xbox’s deal while leaving the precise amount unresolved.
Windows Central Also Disputes the Reported Xbox Budget
Windows Central’s Jez Corden separately reported that sources with direct knowledge of the contracts described a figure far below $400 million. His report also says Dring subsequently walked back the original claim.
Corden suggested the larger number could relate to what Sony might have committed under its previous arrangement. That explanation remains reported information, rather than a publicly documented breakdown of either deal.
PHYSINT Continues Under Xbox’s Publishing Partnership
Xbox announced its expanded partnership with Kojima Productions on September 9, confirming it would publish PHYSINT alongside its existing collaboration on OD. The announcement also outlined collaboration across film and television.
As GameRiv previously covered, Xbox took over publishing after PlayStation stepped away from the project.
As of writing, the latest reporting points to a substantially lower Xbox agreement. Neither Schreier’s comments nor Corden’s report establishes what PHYSINT will ultimately cost by release.
