Tango Gameworks Founder Thought Hi-Fi Rush Would Guarantee Studio’s Safety

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Abiyan

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Hi-Fi Rush came out as one of the biggest Xbox exclusives last year. While many had high expectations from titles like Starfield, Tango Gamework’s rhythm-based action game became one of the notable releases on the platform.

Despite the massive success, Microsoft shut down the studio earlier this year, a shocking announcement for almost everyone in the industry. The creator of Resident Evil and Tango Gameworks, founder Shinji Mikami, also didn’t see this closure coming.

Why it matters: Hi-Fi Rush was Xbox’s highest-rated release last year, and the company was satisfied with its success. Therefore, this closure was surprising to everyone.

During a recent interview with IGN, Shinji Mikami, the founder of Tango Gameworks, stated that he thought the studio would be safe after a smash hit like Hi-Fi Rush. Many expected this release to lead to a major franchise that would guarantee multiple titles and spin-offs to keep the team busy.

I had thought the studio would be safe as long as they continued to make Hi-Fi Rush games.

-Shinji Mikami

Mikami described that this was one of the reasons why he left the company in 2023 after 13 years. He felt confident in Tango Gameworks’ ability to carry on with the Hi-Fi Rush brand since the first attempt was such an excellent display of everyone’s talents.

The title reached over 3 million players before the studio’s closure. Xbox also released Hi-Fi Rush on PS5, making it one of the major third-party releases from 2024.

Speaking on recent events, Mikami reminded everyone that making good games is the most important part. This is precisely why Krafton intervened and saved Tango Gameworks after Microsoft’s annonucement.

I think that for a development studio, making a good game is more directly related to survival than making a popular game.

-Shinji Mikami 

We agree with the developer since the community also rallied behind this studio earlier this year. Moreover, Krafton’s decision to save the Hi-Fi Rush IP was well-received, highlighting the current buzz surrounding this franchise.

Following recent events, the studio has been mostly quiet. The future is full of promises for Tango Gameworks since it now seems to be working on a sequel to last year’s biggest Xbox hit.

Abiyan

[News Reporter]

Abiyan is on track to complete his Computer Science bachelor’s degree. His enthusiasm for writing and gaming motivates him to keep readers and gamers updated with the latest information from the industry. In his free time, Abiyan enjoys playing Dota 2 and Rocket League. Abiyan has also been cited in reputed websites such as Kitguru, Comicbook, GamingBible, Eurogamer and Gamingbolt.