KUALA LUMPUR: Back in 2017, Sony was hyped about Kojima Productions making a return to tactical espionage action with its upcoming game Physint, which was to be exclusive to the PlayStation console.
Fast forward to 2026, and after many publisher blunders, Sony is breaking up with the Hideo Kojima-led studio and trying to cancel the title.
However, Hideo revealed online that the title is now an Xbox exclusive after Sony tried to cancel it in mid-June.
“In mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the Physint project.”
Now, Xbox has two Kojima projects under its belt, the other being OD. These two games will be exclusive to the Xbox platform, making them a public relations win for the company. Granted, Xbox has had its own problems for a long while, but snagging a victory like this is damning for Sony.
It’s no secret that projects from Hideo Kojima are not cheap, but he has the clout to get them made and be what they are. Anyone who isn’t clouded by tribalism and fanboyism can tell you that, for all the doldrums it faces, Xbox seems to have enough in its coffers for two Kojima projects.
Meanwhile, PlayStation may be showing signs of weakness in the spending department. Time will tell if Xbox will go through with it; it can always change its mind midway.
All Sony can hope for is the dedication of its Southeast Asian audience who grew up with the brand, a cultivated kind of thinking similar to America’s relationship with Nintendo that is clearly one-sided in the publisher’s favour.
Short Beats
Netease and Funtap Games have officially launched their big Wuxia-themed open-world action role-playing game Where Winds Meet in Vietnam, completing its global launch tour. Since December 2025, the game has garnered over 100 million players.
Malaysian-made action-adventure game Ondeh Ondeh: Kaya’s Tasty Tale will be published by Bandai Namco and released for PC and consoles in 2027. Developed by Metronomik (of No Straight Roads fame), the title features music-based puzzles and Malaysian folklore presented in a bright, family-friendly aesthetic.
Nintendo has announced a slew of new titles exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2:
- Nintendo Switch Sports Resort (Oct 22)
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake (Nov 5)
- The Switch 2 update to Pikmin 4 (Nov 12)
- The Switch 2 update to Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Dec 3)
- Metroid Ravenous (Jan 28)
- Kirby and the World Beyond (Spring 2027)
- Onyx: The Dark Grip (2027)
Sega president Shuji Utsumi said that an increasing number of its fans have never actually played the games it makes. He attributes this to the growing fanbase that watches streamers instead of playing the titles.
Graphics card maker NVIDIA is being investigated by the Department of Justice over its US$20 billion non-exclusive agreement with AI chip company Groq.
Apple has unveiled its new smartphone called the iPhone Duo, a foldable device that also plays games from three perspectives, in addition to other functionalities.
Op-Ed
We talk about the new Where Winds Meet update ahead of its Sept 18 release date.
Games Of The Week
Halloween: The Game is an asymmetrical player-versus-player action horror title from Illfonic. Play as the unkillable serial killer Michael Myers against a group of high school students, with the latter trying to survive the night against The Shape.
Sprawl Zero is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a cyberpunk world, where you fight off the military and fascist cults using your Gravity Golves, augments and more than 40 weapons.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mysterious Dungeon – Classic HD is a remake of a 90s roguelike dungeon crawler using the Dragon Quest brand. Out for PC and consoles.
Port of Jumanah is an action roguelite title where you go deep-sea diving to battle sea monsters and rebuild the titular port to restore it to its former glory. Out for PC and consoles.
Code Vein II – Mask of Idris is a new DLC for the base game, where the Revenant Hunter has to explore the new Forsaken World to fight new cosmic threats. Out for PC and consoles.
Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush is the third Hot Wheels racing game from Milestone.
Viking-themed open-world survival game Valheim is finally in 1.0 form.
Recommended Viewing
Content creator Super Eyepatch Wolf talks about the recent The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake discourse.
