Bloomberg's Jason Schreier details why #PlayStation parted ways with #Kojima on #Physint, while giving the perspectives of all sides involved.
PlayStation perspective:
Neither Death Stranding 1 or 2 lived up to PS's sales expectations. DS1 sold better than DS1, but a bulk of its sales were discounted (less revenue) and on PC, which PS didn't publish.
As timed exclusives they also didn't drive console sales the way a permanent exclusive might.
A lot of the folk Kojima was closest with at PlayStation, are also no longer at the company, which was also a factor.
They signed on to make Physint, but during early production over the last few years "it has been missing milestones, it has been late on deadlines, it has been over budget, and it has not been living up to PlayStation's expectations", per multiple sources at PlayStation.
There was also uncertainty about the games development, and Kojima was also asking for a lot of money fot it; in the hundreds of millions.
These things coupled with difficult discussions about exclusivity windows (PS don't do PC releases for SP any more), ultimately led to PS cancelling.
The other thing is that with increasing AI shortage prices and PS not expecting to sell as many future consoles, they are now trying to maximise profitability and revenue per user, in other words, less risk averse.
Post Concord, PlayStation also has much more rigorous process with production milestones and development assessment, hence are much more privy to cancellations if targets aren't met, unlike previously where they may have let things run.
Kojima perspective:
Kojima feels games are near enough always late and over budget, especially if you want award winning, prestige building, critically acclaimed or stand out games. Jason even concurs with this notion.
The previous regime at PlayStation was more open to Kojima and this type of project flexibility, whereas the new regime is tightening the purse and wanting stricter controls.
The new PS regimes personalities also clash more with Kojima.
Xbox perspective:
For Xbox, this is a play for more of the Asian market, both Japan and China.
They also see potenial benefit in the movie and film production side of things, and want more exposure to that sector with Kojima.
Unlike PlayStation, they are also happy to publish on PC, hence push the PC platform and take any royalties that come with it, even if Steam takes a lionshare.
Jason does mention some at Xbox, especially the ones recently laid off or studios divested, may feel negatively about this bolder investment into Kojima, which is ultimately expensive and risky at a time they've been heavily cutting costs.
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He ends with mentioning that Physint is essentially a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, not some niche delivery genre, hence understandable there's been much stronger reactions from players.
Edited video summary attached.
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