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A spy game in more ways than one
When Hideo Kojima announced Physint, a new next-generation action espionage game, during Sony’s State of Play in January 2024, fans of stealth-action titles erupted with excitement. But for long-time followers of the gaming industry, the announcement was more than just a teaser for an upcoming blockbuster, it felt like the next chapter in Kojima’s unspoken war with his former employer, Konami.
Set to release in “five or six years”, Physint appears not only as a love letter to the genre Kojima helped pioneer with Metal Gear Solid, but also as a symbolic flex, a declaration that he has moved far beyond the constraints once imposed on him. Meanwhile, Konami, seemingly unable to replicate his creative brilliance, clings to his legacy by re-releasing Metal Gear titles in new packages every few years just to stay relevant.
This article explores the historic Kojima-Konami split, how Physint fits into that narrative, and what this means for fans of espionage games, narrative-driven storytelling, and the gaming industry as a whole.
The legendary fallout: Kojima vs Konami
To understand why Physint feels like a cold war in digital form, we must revisit 2015, the year when one of gaming’s most respected partnerships imploded.
Hideo Kojima, after nearly three decades at Konami, was unceremoniously pushed out following the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Despite glowing reviews and strong sales, the development process was riddled with controversy.
Kojima’s creative autonomy clashed with Konami’s increasingly corporate and profit-driven priorities. What was once a collaboration becoming a battleground, culminating in his name and studio logo being removed from promotional materials, and eventually, Silent Hills (co-developed with Guillermo del Toro and Norman Reedus) being cancelled outright.
Worse still, Kojima was reportedly banned by Konami’s legal team from attending The Game Awards 2015 to accept honours for The Phantom Pain, an incident that drew ire from both industry insiders and fans.
Shortly thereafter, Kojima founded Kojima Productions, his own independent studio, and began developing Death Stranding, a completely original IP that redefined the walking simulator genre. In contrast, Konami, lacking Kojima’s vision and narrative sophistication, resorted to recycling his previous work.
Physint: A glimpse into the future, a nod to the past
Now, a decade after the split, Physint has been announced as Kojima’s next original IP, a “next-generation action espionage game”, echoing the very DNA of the Metal Gear Solid series. According to Kojima, development will stretch another five to six years, placing its likely release window somewhere between 2029 and 2030.
The timing and genre are not coincidental. In a subtle, almost poetic move, Kojima is re-entering the very genre that put him on the map, one that Konami has commodified in his absence but failed to meaningfully evolve.
By returning to espionage storytelling on his own terms, Kojima is signalling that the soul of the Metal Gear franchise never truly belonged to Konami, it belonged to him. With Physint, he’s taking it back.
Konami’s response: Re-releases as a business model
While Kojima moves forward, Konami has been looking backward. Their strategy in the post-Kojima era has largely revolved around:
- Remastering and re-releasing older titles, such as the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection.
- Turning beloved franchises into pachinko machines, drawing criticism for cheapening iconic IPs.
- Mobile game development and ventures into NFTs and blockchain gaming, areas not aligned with Kojima’s high-concept, narrative-first philosophy.
Without Kojima, Konami’s attempts to breathe life into Metal Gear have felt more like corporate archaeology than innovation. Fans have noticed, and so has the media. There’s a sense that Konami is cashing in on nostalgia, selling Kojima’s shadow while he continues to cast new ones.
The announcement of Physint comes at a time when Konami once again launched a repackaged Metal Gear Solid collection. For many, it feels like Kojima is offering the future, while Konami is stuck selling memories.
Kojima Productions: A studio built on vision and freedom
Since its founding, Kojima Productions has emerged as a beacon of auteur-driven game design. The release of Death Stranding in 2019 proved that Kojima could thrive creatively without corporate interference.
Now, the studio is juggling three major projects:
- Death Stranding 2, a sequel to the original’s unique narrative blend of isolation and connection.
- OD, an enigmatic Xbox-exclusive horror title developed in partnership with Microsoft.
- And of course, Physint, which will presumably reunite players with espionage mechanics, stealth gameplay, and deeply layered storytelling.
Kojima has said that Physint may be his final game before transitioning into filmmaking, a lifelong passion he has frequently alluded to. Whether or not that happens, one thing is clear: Kojima is building his legacy on original IPs and total creative control, two things he was denied in his final years at Konami.
A tale of two studios: One visionary, one legacy holder
The contrast between Kojima Productions and Konami could not be starker:
| Kojima Productions | Konami |
| Independent, visionary studio | Corporate entity focused on IP exploitation |
| Creates original IPs (Death Stranding, OD, Physint) | Re-releases old IPs (MGS Master Collection) |
| Driven by cinematic storytelling | Driven by commercial gaming trends |
| Industry darling with global fan support | Frequently criticised for mishandling franchises |
This difference is why Physint isn’t just a game, it’s a message. It tells fans that Kojima hasn’t just survived Konami’s departure, he’s transcended it. And each new project is a reminder that creativity can’t be canned, reboxed, or endlessly resold.
Physint as Kojima’s long game
Physint may be five or six years away, but it already feels like a powerful chapter in the ongoing story of Kojima vs Konami, a saga defined by creativity, control, and cultural impact.
While Konami continues to monetise nostalgia, Kojima is crafting the future, one original IP at a time. And when Physint finally arrives, it won’t just be a game, it will be a reminder of what happens when vision is freed from bureaucracy.
In that sense, Physint isn’t just a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid — it’s a spiritual retort to Konami itself.
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