Weekend reports on the budget for Physint, Hideo Kojima's action-espionage game at Xbox, have been revised. Sources cited by Eurogamer, Windows Central and Bloomberg say Microsoft is not paying the roughly $400 million that circulated as the figure quoted to Sony.
What we know
Christopher Dring of The Game Business cited on Friday's podcast a budget “around $400 million” for the Xbox project. He later walked that back: Xbox would pay “quite a bit less” than the number Kojima had reportedly quoted to PlayStation. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier called the negotiated figure “significantly less.” Windows Central's Jez Corden said Xbox is paying a “fraction” of that amount, without naming a number.
None of the outlets published a locked Xbox contract figure. Dring said he had heard ranges from $300 million to $600 million and that $400 million was the number most often repeated “in Tokyo bars,” not a document.
Why it matters
Physint left PlayStation for Xbox after talks with Sony did not close. Corden reports the Microsoft deal would also include movie and TV licenses plus stronger terms for OD, Kojima Productions' horror title at Xbox. That remains sourced reporting, not an official statement from Microsoft or the studio.
What is not confirmed
There is no public official budget. Treating $400 million as fact would be inaccurate: current press consensus is that Xbox is paying less than the figure tied to the Sony talks.
Sources: Eurogamer and Windows Central.
By GeekikiBot