Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks has confirmed the upcoming physical version for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will still be released via Limited Run Games despite Microsoft's plans to close the studio. In addition, one last update for the game will be available later today «to address some minor issues».
What do studio closures mean for Xbox strategy? | Opinion
08.05.2024 - 15:21 / gamesindustry.biz / Candy Crush
The news that Xbox was going to buy Bethesda caught me by surprise. And not just because of the sheer size of the $7.5bn acquisition.
It surprised me because it hadn’t matched what Xbox had been telling us. I’d interviewed Xbox senior management several times over the proceeding 18 months, and when it came to acquisitions, they were talking about the need for games that would appeal to PC players, and gamers in countries like Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, South America and so on.
Bethesda is a primarily Western-focused games company best-known for RPGs and shooters. Xbox already had Halo and Gears of War and Fable, and just acquired RPG specialists Obsidian. Bethesda didn’t seem to fit the remit.
But, of course, the opportunity to own IP like Fallout, Elder Scrolls and Doom was probably an opportunity Microsoft couldn’t pass up. Fable is wonderful, but it’s not exactly Skyrim.
Yet this is why I was so fearful of the mass consolidation that was taking place in the games industry just a few years ago. When you’re spending $7.5 billion on Bethesda, the bulk of that cost is because of Bethesda Game Studios and its major RPG franchises. It isn’t because of Dishonored or The Evil Within. I took a bit of a kicking from Xbox fans on social media when I admitted I wasn’t a fan of Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision. But it wasn’t because I felt the deal would somehow destroy PlayStation, but rather because the bulk of that $69 billion was for Call of Duty and Candy Crush, and not Crash Bandicoot or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
"Microsoft's gamble hasn’t paid off, and it’s the teams that are paying the price"
It's not just Microsoft, to be clear. All acquisitions of a certain size inevitably come with things the buyer has no need for. When EA acquired Codemasters, it was to get hold of the lucrative F1 series and not because of the Dirt or Grid franchises. Even recently, when Take-Two bought Gearbox, that was mostly to protect its interest in the Borderlands IP, and not because of its indie publishing business.
And when the going gets tough, when things don’t go entirely as expected – an inevitability in any industry, let alone games – it’s the teams and people behind those games who are most likely to find themselves out of work.
The games industry is going through a tough period of slow growth, driven mostly by the macroeconomic environment, but also a series of issues unique to our business. We’ve been speaking at length about them all year. Most companies are having to react to that reality, and the Xbox senior management team will be making these moves not just to please shareholders, but also to protect the rest of its teams.
The announced studio closures were all developers that simply hadn’t delivered in one way or
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gamingbolt.com
16.05.2024 / 18:07
Hi-Fi Rush Gets Final Update After Studio Closure
While developer Tango Gameworks has been shut down by Microsoft, the studio’s most recent title—Hi-Fi Rush—is getting one more update. Out today, the update is available on PS5 and PC, and brings with it a host of smaller bugs throughout the game. Check out the complete patch notes below for more details.
gematsu.com
16.05.2024 / 17:01
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thegamer.com
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polygon.com
15.05.2024 / 16:55
Hi-Fi Rush gets one last patch before studio closure
Tango Gameworks will update Hi-Fi Rush one last time before Microsoft shuts the door on the studio. Microsoft announced earlier in May that it was closing three studios, including Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks. Shortly after the news of the closures, Tango Gameworks confirmed the game will “remain available and playable everywhere” it's already accessible.
ign.com
14.05.2024 / 13:35
What Does the End of Tango Gameworks Mean for Game Pass?
Just over a year ago, Tango Gameworks and Xbox released Hi-Fi Rush, a musical delight that seemed to come out of nowhere. Hi-Fi Rush received almost universal acclaim – it was wholly unique, polished, and tightly paced. It was also like nothing developer Tango Gameworks had ever made before, and seemingly made explicitly for Xbox Game Pass. It followed closely in the footsteps of games like Psychonauts 2 and Pentiment, neither of which match the profile of the big, blockbuster AAAs that move millions upon millions of copies, and yet they were beloved anyway. Taken as a whole, they lent credibility and prestige to Xbox Game Pass as an accessible library of well-supported, beautifully crafted art.
gamesindustry.biz
13.05.2024 / 15:51
Let's talk about those Xbox studio closures... | Microcast
The latest episode of the GI Microcast is now available in podcast form, delivering your weekly dive into the biggest stories of the past week. The video will be available tomorrow.
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12.05.2024 / 16:37
Sony Establishes New Studio Comprised of Former Deviation Games Developers – Rumor
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gamingbolt.com
10.05.2024 / 18:03
Xbox President Responds to Studio Closures: “Our Commitment is to Make Sure That the Business is Healthy”
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videogameschronicle.com
10.05.2024 / 08:37
Xbox president says studio closures were made to keep business ‘healthy for the long term’
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wccftech.com
09.05.2024 / 21:39
Xbox Likely Sees Studio Closures as ‘Eggs Broken to Make Omelet’ Situation; An Impressive Showcase Could Mostly Eclipse Anger, Says Analyst
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gamerant.com
09.05.2024 / 18:32
Big Redfall Update Was in the Works Before Studio Closure
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