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🙌 Tango Gameworks, the studio behind Hi-Fi Rush, has been saved
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💰 The developer was acquired by Krafton Inc.
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👍 The South Korean publisher owns PUBG and The Callisto Protocol
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😢 Tango Gameworks was closed by Microsoft in May
In a wonderful turn of events that few expected, Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks was acquired by PUBG publisher Krafton Inc.
The Japanese studio was unceremoniously shut down by Microsoft just a few months ago, which meant the end of highly acclaimed IPs such as Hi-Fi Rush, The Evil Within and the excellent Ghostwire: Tokyo.
Microsoft rightly faced heavy criticism for its decision to close Tango Gameworks so soon after acquiring the studio as part of the deal to acquire ZeniMax. Tango Gameworks was the company’s only Japanese studio and Hi-Fi Rush was undoubtedly one of the best xbox games for quite some time.
Many even called for the resignation of Microsoft’s CEO of Gaming Phil Spencer, which a feeling I shared at that time.
South Korean publisher Krafton Inc., which owns PUBG: Battleground and The Callisto Protocol, said in a Press release It is “intended to work with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks so that the talented team can continue developing the Hi-Fi Rush IP and explore future projects.”
The company also added that it “intends to support the team at Tango Gameworks as they continue their commitment to innovation and bring new and exciting experiences to fans.”
It’s fantastic that Tango Gameworks is living on after it almost ceased to exist, and the news will please gamers who enjoyed the studio’s catalog of titles. The acquisition also means that Tango Gameworks’ next game will likely be released in multiple formats.
Krafton said the studio’s move from Microsoft will not impact Tango’s existing game catalog, which includes The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush.
The decision to close Tango Gameworks could prove detrimental to Microsoft if the studio’s next games become a commercial and critical success, but given the number of layoffs and studio closures, it’s refreshing to see a studio survive in these turbulent conditions.
It’s unclear if Tango will retain all rights to its intellectual property with the exception of Hi-Fi Rush from the press release, but if so, many are hoping to see sequels to The Evil Within 2 and Ghostwire: Tokyo.
There’s no doubt that Microsoft’s gaming portfolio would have been stronger – especially among Japanese consumers – had it kept Tango Gameworks, and Krafton’s decision to acquire the studio will only raise more questions about why Microsoft pulled the plug.
Adam Vjestica is senior editor at The Shortcut. He was previously gaming hardware editor at TechRadar and also worked at Nintendo of Europe as content marketing editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.
