Summary
Krafton, the publisher behind thePUBGseries and other titles, has acquiredTango Gameworks, developer ofHi-Fi Rush. TheTango Gameworksacquisition arrives after recent news that the studio’s now-former owners at Microsoft planned to shut it down.
Originally founded by legendary game developer Shinji Mikami after leaving Capcom, Tango Gameworks gained a reputation for creating games powered by unique concepts, likeGhostwire: TokyoandThe Evil Within. The studio’s most recent title,Hi-Fi Rush, wowed audiences with its unusual combination of musical rhythm mechanics and action combat with a colorful cartoon aesthetic. Unfortunately,Microsoft announced that Tango Gameworks would be shut down, alongside three other studios under the Bethesda umbrella.
WithHi-Fi Rushreceiving a final update in May 2024, that might’ve been the end of Tango Gameworks' story, until South Korea-based publisher Krafton announced that it had acquired the studio on August 12. Tango Gameworks will join other studios under Krafton’s umbrella, includingPUBGdeveloper PUBG Studios;TERAdeveloper Bluehole; Striking Distance, which createdThe Callisto Protocol; and Unknown Worlds, developer ofSubnautica.
Krafton Tango Gameworks Acqusition Includes Hi-Fi Rush IP Rights
In its announcement, Krafton trumpeted the Tango Gameworks acquisition as the company’s first significant investment in the Japanese game industry. It also mentioned that it had acquired the rights toHi-Fi Rushalongside Tango Gameworks itself. Krafton said that it intends to cooperate with Microsoft to ensure a “smooth” transition to allow current Tango developers to “continue developing” theHi-Fi RushIP and explore “future projects.” It also promised that there would be “no impact” on the existing Tango Gameworks catalog, and that titles likeThe Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, andGhostwire: Tokyowill remain available wherever they’re currently sold. Krafton did not mention acquiring the rights to any other Tango Gameworks titles, so it’s likely that they will remain in Bethesda and Microsoft’s stable. With control over the IP, it seems like Krafton could push Tango Gameworks to create theHi-Fi Rushsequel it pitched before its initial closure.
Fans and industry commentators reacted positively to the news of Tango Gameworks' apparent revival under Krafton. Xbox was criticized heavily for the decision to close the studios in the first place, as Microsoft executives had been trumpeting the success of games likeHi-Fi Rushjust before the announcement. Fans ofHi-Fi Rushin particular vented their anger byreverse-review bombingHi-Fi Rush, giving it positive reviews on Steam to express support for Tango Gameworks and express their disappointment with Microsoft.
Hi-Fi Rush
WHERE TO PLAY
Feel the beat as wannabe rockstar Chai and his ragtag team of allies rebel against an evil robotics enhancement megacorp with raucous rhythm combat! From Tango Gameworks, the studio that brought you The Evil Within® and Ghostwire®: Tokyo (no, really) comes Hi-Fi RUSH, an all-new action game where the characters, world and combat stylishly sync to the music!CHAI VERSUS THE WORLD: Labeled ‘defective’ after a shady corporate experiment mistakenly fuses a music player to his heart, Chai must now fight for his freedom in a slick animated world where everything – platforming puzzles, enemy attacks and even the colorful gags & banter - are synced to the beat.OPEN UP THE MOSH PIT!: Take on armies of corporate drones (read: actual robots) in satisfying, rhythm-amplified combat. Time your moves to pull off flashy Beat Hits, hard-hitting special abilities and even combination attacks with your allies! Want to show off? Go further and tap into the beat to amp up your skills and earn those covetous S-rank scores.ROWDY REBELS VS. BADASS BOSSES: Lead a squad of colorful teammates and take the fight to the heart of an, er, heartless corporation. Square off with each department’s boss, from Production to Marketing to Finance, each more ready to protect the company’s bottom line than the last in over-the-top battle sequences accompanied by their own music tracks!GRAB YOUR HEADPHONES: Tap your toes to a killer mixtape of original music, as well as songs by Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, The Joy Formidable and more! Want to show off your skills to a live streaming audience? Fret not: Hi-Fi RUSH includes a streamer-friendly alternate audio mode which replaces those licensed songs with original tracks made especially for streaming Hi-Fi RUSH.
