Hi-Fi Rush PlayStation Version Was Not Canceled By Xbox

Hi-Fi Rush was launched in January, becoming the first major Xbox first-party game for 2023. The title saw positive reception across the board and joined the list of Steam best-sellers shortly after release.

The game was not released on PlayStation, but console exclusivity has become a controversial topic recently. Following recent events, an interview revealed Xbox did not interfere much with Hi-Fi Rush, as the game was never developed for PlayStation.

Why it matters: Previously, it was revealed that Xbox canceled the PS5 version of Redfall, leading to criticism for the gaming giant.

Director John Johanas recently spoke to Gamespot in an interview. During the interview, the Director said:

“The team was undecided on platforms.”

At this point, Hi-Fi Rush was already far into development, and Microsoft had just purchased ZeniMax Media. The studio then decided to make the game exclusive to the Xbox console.

John Johanas further said:

“It’s not that we had something working, and we just shelved it.”

Therefore, Tango Gameworks did not cancel a PS5 version. As stated earlier, this was not the case with a game like Redfall. Following the acquisition, Microsoft told Arkane Studios to cancel the game for PlayStation.

Similarly, recent reports claim Indiana Jones was supposed to be developed as a multi-platform title. However, this changed after Xbox purchased ZeniMax Media, and the game is now confirmed to be an Xbox exclusive.

Director John Johanas further stated that the Xbox acquisition did not lead to a massive change in the game’s development. Xbox has been known to keep a hands-off approach, and the gaming giant took a similar approach with Tango Gameworks.

The recent court hearings from Microsoft have revealed internal documents that highlight Microsoft’s intentions to make all future Bethesda Softworks games exclusive to Xbox platforms.

This has led to plenty of controversy around the gaming giant, but the Hi-Fi Rush Director suggests that Microsoft did not force the studio to decide on the game’s exclusivity.