Xbox Shut Down Hi-Fi Rush Studio Then Said It Needs More Small Games

Expert Verified By

"We Need Smaller Games That Give Us Awards"

Story Highlights
  • Xbox Game Studios boss says they need more smaller games like Hi-Fi Rush to earn prestige and awards.
  • The statement comes right after the gaming giant shut down Tango Gameworks, the studio behind Hi-Fi Rush.
  • It has also been reported that Xbox was pitched a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush right before this decision.

Microsoft did the unthinkable recently after closing Tango Gameworks, the studio that released its biggest hit last year. However, after shutting the studio, Microsoft suggests that it needs more games like Hi-Fi Rush for ‘awards and prestige.’

Why it matters: Hi-Fi Rush led the charge last year in Xbox’s lineup. It was the unexpected title that contributed to a solid 2023 for the company, and statements like these fail to acknowledge its contributions.

Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush is an excellent game that does something out of the box.

Matt Booty, the Xbox Game Studios Head, recently held a meeting where he told the employees that they need more smaller games. This statement seems to be quite tone-deaf after its recent decision.

We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards.

-Matt Booty

Hi-Fi Rush was a major breakthrough for Tango Gameworks. According to reports, a sequel was pitched to Microsoft right before the studio was shut down, making this statement even more surprising.

Last year, the game garnered praise for its creativity and charm. It also went on to win plenty of awards, presumably filling the role that Matt Booty wants from future Xbox Game Studios titles.

Hi-Fi Rush
Tango Gameworks was considering a Hi-Fi Rush sequel before the studio closure.

According to the report, Matt Booty’s statement was just as shocking for Xbox employees. However, it seems the upper management at Microsoft is unable to see the irony in its own actions.

Reports state that Arkane Austin was looking to pitch a similar project before it was shut down. The developer hoped to return to its immersive-sim roots, but Xbox seemed to have other plans.

We expect more details from Microsoft on the matter next month as Phil Spencer is set to conduct various interviews following the Xbox Games Showcase.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT Make Their Steam Survey Debut As Windows 11 Expands Its Market Share

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT appears in Steam Survey, also Windows 11 continues to gain market share instead of being steady.

Finally, the Apple MacBook Pro Will be Getting a Touchscreen

Apple's new OLED MacBook Pro will "100%" feature a touchscreen and will launch in late 2026, according to a new leak.

Satya Nadella Says YouTube Earns More From Xbox Than Microsoft Does

Satya Nadella says that Xbox needs to be sustainable moving forward, joking that even YouTube earns more from the brand than Microsoft.

Intel Plans to Release Raptor Lake For a Third Time in 2027 as “Raptor Lake Next”

Intel is apparently planning to release "Raptor Lake Next" in 2027, a new lineup of CPUs based on the 3-year-old architecture.

Stellar Blade Is Finally Coming To Xbox, But Developers Need Time To Port To The Console

The publishing head of Shift Up has revealed on X that Stellar Blade is coming to Xbox, but the development team still needs time.