August 12th 2024.
Good news for fans of Hi-Fi Rush – the beat won't be stopping for the game just yet. After Microsoft announced its plans to shut down the developer in May, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the game. However, it has now been revealed that Tango Gameworks, the developer behind Hi-Fi Rush, has been acquired by Krafton in a "strategic agreement."
This news comes as a relief to many, as Microsoft's decision to close down four Bethesda studios has been a major blow for Xbox. With earlier mass layoffs and falling sales of the Xbox Series X/S, it has been a particularly bleak year for the console. The closure of Tango Gameworks, along with other studios like Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Games, was a major setback. But now, thanks to Krafton, Tango Gameworks has been given a second life.
Krafton, a South Korean publisher known for popular games like PUBG: Battlegrounds and The Callisto Protocol, has announced that it has acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush intellectual property. In a press release, the company stated that it intends to collaborate with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the continuity at Tango Gameworks. This means that the talented team behind Hi-Fi Rush will have the opportunity to continue developing the game and explore future projects – a strong indication that a sequel is in the works. It was previously reported that Tango Gameworks was already working on ideas for a sequel before it was closed down by Microsoft.
Furthermore, Krafton has pledged to support Tango Gameworks in their commitment to innovation and delivering fresh and exciting experiences for fans. This acquisition will have no impact on the availability of Tango's previous games, including The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, and Ghostwire: Tokyo, which will remain on Xbox Game Pass and other storefronts.
However, it should be noted that the announcement only mentions Hi-Fi Rush in regards to the intellectual property acquisition. This suggests that the rights to other Tango Gameworks games, such as The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo, remain with Microsoft. As a result, any potential sequels to these games will likely come from another studio.
Founded in 2010 by Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami, Tango Gameworks was later acquired by ZeniMax Media, which was then bought by Microsoft in 2020. Mikami himself left the studio in 2023 and has since set up another studio. Before Microsoft's announcement to shut down Tango Gameworks, there were rumors of a Switch version of Hi-Fi Rush in development. This could potentially become a reality now with the support of Krafton. The rhythm action game was released on PlayStation 5 and PC earlier this year.
While Hi-Fi Rush received positive reviews from critics, it's uncertain how well it actually sold. The game was released on Xbox Game Pass in January last year and a physical version was set to be released through Limited Run Games. Regardless, it's clear that Hi-Fi Rush was a critical success.
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