Hi-Fi Rushdeveloper Tango Gameworks has averted closure after KRAFTON, Inc. purchased the studio and the aforementioned IP from Microsoft.
Announced in aKrafton press release, the PUBG publisher said it “welcomed the talented people of Tango Gameworks to their team,” after an acquisition that would “include the rights to Tango Gameworks’ acclaimed IP,Hi-Fi RUSH.”
Notably missing from the acquisition are the IPs of the studio’s previous works,Ghostwire: TokyoandThe Evil Within, which Microsoft will continue to retain at this time.
Established in 2010 by industry veteran Shinji Mikami, Tango Gameworks is no stranger to new ownership, as it waspurchased by Bethesda’s parent company, ZeniMax Media, that same year. In 2021, it came under new ownership again followingMicrosoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax. A sequel to Hi-Fi Rush was in the planning stages prior to –and possibly contributing to– the announcement in May that Tango would be among four studios slated to shut down.
With Krafton’s commitment to “maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks, allowing the talented team to continue developing theHi-Fi RUSHIP and explore future projects,” it appears that the studio has been granted a second chance to resume work on this follow-up title.
Although studio founderShinji Mikami left in 2023, the creative director at Tango Gameworks, John Johanas, confirmed in a post on X/Twitter that he would remain at the studio, stating, “We’re back, baby!”
…and this is how it continues.We’re back, baby!https://t.co/rUWfNQ0Wb6
Although it’s unclear how many other previous staff members will return to the company, Krafton stated that they “[intend] to support the Tango Gameworks team to continue its commitment to innovation and delivering fresh and exciting experiences for fans.”
No news was shared on whether the upcomingphysical release of Hi-Fi Rush via Limited Run Gameswill be affected by this transaction, but it does not appear likely as the press release stated that “there will be no impact on the existing game catalog ofThe Evil Within,The Evil Within 2,Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the originalHi-Fi RUSHgame.”
While this is an uplifting turn for the nearly-defunct studio, it is worth noting that Krafton’s is not without its own track record of layoffs, with32 staff let go from Striking Distance Studioslast year after its debut title,The Calisto Protocol, fell short of sales expectations. Regardless, this is undeniably a more ideal outcome for the company than anybody could have expected, with renewed opportunity under new ownership.
This surprising turn of events offers a faint glimmer of hope to the desperate fools like myself still holding out for the Tango team to conjure upThe Evil Within 3someday. IfToys for Bob can partner with Microsoft for a new gameafterseparating from them earlier in the year, what’s stopping Tango from collaborating with Microsoft on anotherEvil Withintitle in the future?
