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Knowledge-based discourse

Kojima Productions’ Physint Damage Control: Non-denial Denial

(This is a media literacy piece. I’ve no opinion on Physint or all parties involved.) The press release from Kojima Productions is a classic PR sleight-of-hand.

X post by Kojima Productions, part 1 of 2: You may have seen a recent article that mentions KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, speculating on the reasons for the change in publishing partners for PHYSINT. Normally, we would not comment on unsubstantiated speculation on the internet, but these aspersions around our relationship with PlayStation, the commercial performance of the DEATH STRANDING franchise, and the broader production planning and investment for PHYSINT, have reached beyond the studio and have touched our fans, our creative partners, and colleagues we have worked alongside with for three decades. https://x.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/2101631479704883571
X post by Kojima Productions, part 2 of 2: None of the claims written came from any official or on-the-record source and as such we encourage you to take them with a dose of scepticism. Make no mistake, this was a serious situation for the studio with a range of potentially significant implications. While we recognise that the article may have caused alarm, we want to reassure you all, for the record: that the studio is in a healthy, profitable state, development for PHYSINT continues to move forward with XBOX, and our relationship with PlayStation remains strong. Thank you for your continued support, KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS https://x.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/2101631479704883571
  • Claimed the studio is “profitable”, but did NOT deny Death Stranding 1/2 underperforming Sony’s expectations
  • Stated Physint work is “mov[ing] forward”, but did NOT deny missing deadlines or exceeding budget
  • Said relationship with PS “remains strong”, but did NOT deny disagreement over exclusivity
  • Via WaPo/IGN, Kojima professed being “shocked” by Sony’s call, but did NOT deny negotiating for months

The flurry of PR moves made gestures toward all the reported points without actually disputing any of them, because the objective is to muddle information and sway perception. Knowing the publicist MO, one can read between the lines and see the unspoken truth.

[Originally posted on 2026-09-20 Pacific Time]