Japanese video game designer, Hideo Kojima has announced that the current SAG-AFTRA video game actors’ strike has disrupted production on two major projects from Kojima Productions, Xbox-published OD and the highly anticipated action espionage title Physint, slated for Sony.

In a social media post, Kojima confirmed that actor scanning and filming for OD were suspended in the latter half of 2024 due to the strike. Similarly, casting for Physint, Kojima’s return to the action espionage genre has been put on hold. Production on both titles is expected to resume in 2025.

The SAG-AFTRA strike stems from disputes over artificial intelligence usage and fair compensation for video game voice actors. Negotiations for a new contract began in October 2022, with the strike officially approved in September 2023. Despite these challenges, Kojima hinted at broader plans for his studio, teasing additional adaptations alongside current work on Death Stranding 2, set for release in 2025, and a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24.

“As we step into the Year of the Snake in 2025, I look forward to your continued support. This year will be a pivotal one, with the release of DS2 on the horizon. Production for OD is also expected to ramp up after the strike, with filming and scanning in full swing. We’ll also return to the casting and development for the PHYSINT project too,” Kojima wrote on X.

The strike’s impact extends beyond Kojima Productions. Activision recently confirmed it recasts voice actors for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, though the title is not subject to the strike due to its development timeline. The broader gaming industry continues to grapple with the challenges the strike poses as negotiations persist.

Both OD and Physint remain without official release dates. OD, described as a video game/movie hybrid, includes collaboration with filmmaker Jordan Peele, while Physint was unveiled during a Sony State of Play broadcast, hinting at a potential PlayStation 6 release.