Redfall is getting one final update after all.
10.05.2024 - 15:45 / ign.com / Arkane Austin / John Johanas / Aaron Greenberg
Steam users are leaving positive reviews for Hi-Fi Rush following Microsoft’s shock decision to close its developer, Tango Gameworks.
Microsoft announced the closure of Tango Gameworks as well as Redfall developer Arkane Austin this week as part of devastating cuts to Bethesda owner ZeniMax.
Tango Gameworks' critically acclaimed rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush was deemed a success upon its launch. It shadow-dropped straight into Game Pass on Xbox and PC, and was sold outside the subscription service priced $30. IGN’s Hi-Fi Rush review returned a 9/10. We said: “Hi-Fi Rush marches to the beat of its own drum with stunning animation, loveable characters, and stylish rhythmic action that are anything but one-note.”
Last year, amid reports that Hi-Fi Rush had failed to sell well enough, Aaron Greenberg, vice president of Xbox games marketing, insisted that Hi-Fi Rush “was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations. We couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release.”
On Wednesday, May 8, Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty reportedly told Bethesda staff “we need smaller games that give us prestige and awards” — just a day after Microsoft shut down Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks.
Tango Gameworks staff reacted to Booty’s reported statement with social media posts expressing their clear exasperation at the situation. John Johanas, creative director at Tango Gameworks and director on Hi-Fi Rush, reacted to Booty’s quote in devastating fashion:
https://t.co/Cz2fW01QVc pic.twitter.com/ADV4ZTpIuP
Kazuaki Egashira, game project manager at Tango Gameworks, offered their own take:
Not enough?#HiFiRush #TangoGameworks pic.twitter.com/3OLhYAPbxU
Hi-Fi Rush, which hit a peak of 6,132 concurrent players on Steam when it launched in January 2023, has seen an uptick in players on Valve’s platform since this week’s announcement, and it is now the subject of a positive review bombing campaign by users who are hitting out at Microsoft’s closure of Tango Gameworks.
“RIP Tango Gameworks,” reads one review. “At least they went out with a bang.” “Hi-Fi Rush was the best game Xbox published in over a decade, it won awards and was beloved by everyone,” reads another. “Microsoft’s answer is to shut them down, and it's crap. Hi-Fi Rush is worth playing 1000%, please buy this game and experience one of the best character action games. I fear because of the licensed music it will get delisted in the future because MS clearly doesn't care. Tango, Arkane Austin and everyone affected today didn't deserve this.”
At the time of this article's publication, Hi-Fi Rush had had over 500 positive reviews posted following the news of Tango Gameworks’ closure, a figure that is
Redfall is getting one final update after all.
A final update for Hi-Fi Rush released this week: a gift from developer Tango Gameworks before it closes its doors for good. The update fixes a selection of minor bugs on PS5, and will be the final title update, as Xbox has decided to shut down the decorated Japanese developer. The studio, founded by industry icon Shinji Mikami, released several acclaimed titles under parent company Bethesda’s banner, including The Evil Within and Ghostwire Tokyo.
Microsoft had announced in February that it would bring four of its exclusive Xbox titles to rival platforms from Sony and Nintendo. It seems the company is not stopping with its four first-party games coming to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. A new report claims that the Xbox parent intends to make a multi-platform push for more of its games. Under the plan, internally codenamed “Latitude,” more upcoming first-party Xbox titles are said to be in development for the PS5.
Soon to be closed Xbox studio Tango Gameworks has confirmed that a physical edition of Hi-Fi Rush is still being worked on.
Hi-Fi Rush is set for its final patch later today, May 15, amid the closure of its developer Tango Gameworks.
Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has reportedly said Microsoft needs smaller games that will earn it «prestige and awards» a day after shutting down Tango Gameworks.
This Week in Business is our weekly recap column, a collection of stats and quotes from recent stories presented with a dash of opinion (sometimes more than a dash) and intended to shed light on various trends. Check every Friday for a new entry.
Addressing Microsoft's recent call to close down four of its first-party studios, including Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, Xbox President Sarah Bond talked about the motive behind it. Other companies that Xbox recently dissolved are Redfall developer Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios.
After Microsoft unexpectedly announced it closed Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, some wondered whether the previously announced physical version of the game would ever see the light of day. But don't worry — despite Tango Gameworks' closure, Limited Run Games is still planning to release a physical edition of the studio's final project.
Ah, it feels like only yesterday that Microsoft shut down Tango Gameworks, creators of Hi-Fi Rush, and now here's Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, telling Microsoft staff at an internal townhall meeting that "we need smaller games that give us prestige and awards" - a sentence we might plausibly lengthen to "...like Hi-Fi Rush".
In one of the most double-think statements ever made outside of George Orwell’s 1984, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has told employees that “We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards,” just one day after closing down the game studio that was responsible for the prestigious award-winning game, Hi-Fi Rush.
The sudden closure of several video-game studios at Microsoft's Xbox division was the result of a widespread cost-cutting initiative that still isn't finished.