Kojima's Departure from PlayStation Tied to Sales Struggles

September 12, 2026 - 04:43

Hideo Kojima's relationship with PlayStation has cooled considerably, and the reasons appear to be financial rather than creative. Despite the intense marketing push and years of anticipation surrounding Death Stranding, the game did not generate the revenue Sony hoped for. That shortfall played a significant role in the decision to let Kojima Productions take its next project elsewhere.

Death Stranding arrived in 2019 with a massive budget, a star studded cast, and a reputation built on Kojima's legacy with the Metal Gear series. Critics were divided, and while a dedicated fanbase embraced the game's unusual mechanics, the broader market did not respond with the numbers needed to justify the investment. The director's cut and a PC release helped somewhat, but they did not change the overall picture.

The situation grew more complicated with Death Stranding 2. Although it was positioned as a major PlayStation exclusive, its commercial performance reportedly fell short of internal targets as well. Two underperforming titles in a row made Sony reluctant to commit to another expensive partnership.

As a result, Kojima's next game, OD, is being published by Xbox Game Studios. It marks a notable shift for a creator who had been closely associated with PlayStation for years. The move suggests that even legendary names in the industry are not immune to the pressure of meeting sales expectations.