When the numbers don’t add up, a new backer can rewrite the story of Hi-Fi Rush.
I do not think I would ever recover if Rockstar Games closed its doors and walked out on everyone. I know that is a very strange thing to say, because why should anyone be attached to a company like that? Plus, businesses come and go, do they not?
But, hear me out when I say that I really feel the sentiment rooting from my love of Red Dead Redemption II. Even it takes decades, I would still want to see a third instalment, and I cannot stress that enough.
I have just seen so many teams get the axe before it was their time, and I have come to develop an anxiety for it. What I am writing about today is somewhat similar to the scenario I painted the picture of. The announcement that Xbox and Microsoft will be shutting down Tango Gameworks earlier this year was devastating news.
Every one of their game enthusiasts, including myself, was forced to assume that was it; we would never see another game from them, especially not Hi-Fi Rush 2. The latest development, however, is that Krafton Inc.— creators of PUBG—have come and, basically, rescued the organization from collapse by acquiring Tango Gameworks, the aforementioned former Xbox studio, along with the Hi-Fi Rush franchise.
As far as video games go, I thought Hi-Fi Rush was fantastic, I was fond of it, and I endured the wait for its sequel. I had the impression that once the studio shut down, there was little hope of the project ever returning.
However, with this acquisition, the prospect is seeming to be more promising. And you can tell it is indeed a significant affair, since Krafton Inc. launched major franchises like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) – the battle royale games fever was essentially sparked by it.
There seemed to be a general consensus regarding Tango Gameworks employees that everyone had been let go of. Contrary to what I believed as well, a press release was issued by Krafton Inc. announcing the addition of Tango Gameworks’ talented staff, highlighted a momentous occasion in the company’s global expansion as it made its first substantial investment into the Japanese gaming market.
They announced that Tango Gameworks’ highly regarded IP, Hi-Fi Rush, would be part of this strategic move. The statement went on to comment that Krafton planned this collaborative arrangement with Xbox and ZeniMax Media in order to keep Tango Gameworks running smoothly.
That would mean that the crew could keep working on the Hi-Fi Rush titles and look into other potential projects. As long as the Tango Gameworks crew keeps delivering innovative and entertaining content to fans, Krafton Inc. promised to back them 100%.
It just seems like Microsoft and Xbox were really seeking to strike a deal and identify the most suitable personnel to buy them out, which led to this outcome. What they did with Toys for Bob is quite comparable.
Keeping the whole studio intact would have been ideal, but ultimately, it is their business. All eyes were on the figures, the finances, and the things that would bring in the most profit for them. And in my view, it was the deciding factor for the entire matter.
No matter how many games Tango Gameworks put out, the numbers were all mediocre at best. The original Hi-Fi Rush did not attain such high sales numbers either. Despite its additional PS5 release, it unfortunately also underperformed in sales, compared to the other games on the console.
Life has been breathed into Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush once again, unlike many other collapsed studios in the industry. Given the current conditions, it will be quite fascinating to see how well the sequel to Hi-Fi Rush will sell.
