Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks was part of a series of mass layoffs that shocked the industry earlier this year, especially because the studio’s last game, Hi-Fi Rush, was a mostly successful award-winning “breakthrough achieved all the key measurements and expectations”, according to Aaron Greenberg from Microsoft. Point out the parade of anything other than a simple answer.
Fortunately, PUBG publisher Krafton came along at the last minute to get Tango out of the way of the dodo, acquiring the studio three months after announcing its closure – not before half of its talent understandably went elsewhere, considering the curtains were being put on have already been triggered.
Despite this, the studio’s creators put on a brave face. I’m talking to 4player (spotted and translated by Machine), CEO Colin Mack, imaginative director John Johanas and chief development officer Kazuaki Egashira shared some confident words. For Egashira, nothing has changed in terms of the studio’s goal to land breakthrough IPs, whether they fly like Hi-Fi Rush or move a little more like Ghostwire: Tokyo:
“Tango Gameworks’ goal remains to create intellectual property. While the skills and thinking required to create something from nothing can’t be acquired overnight, we have members who have the knowledge to do it and we want to grow,” and they are growing—with several positions on studio website still open to future projects.
Johanas adds that he wants Tango “to be a studio where people feel like the work is their baby, not just a task to be done,” and Mack chimes in and adds that “we want to make unique and interesting games for everyone who has supported Tango GameWorks so far, so look forward to it.”
As for whether the acquisition will have an impact on the future, Johanas is confident that it can move straight away: “A lot has happened this year, but Tango Gameworks itself has not changed. You can be sure that the takeover will have no impact on our future matches.”
Listen – I’m rooting for Tango Gameworks to get back on its feet. Hi Fi Rush is my personal pick for 2023 and I want more of this studio’s passion to land on my monitor intact. I’m just not entirely sure that “no effect” is true. Thinking that your studio closed for three months, lost half its staff, and then having to adapt to a recent acquisition is… plot pass. The studio that made one of my favorite games of 2023 has been split in half, and I wouldn’t mind anyone involved if the other half that was stitched together made it look a little different.
Nevertheless, optimism is a good sign. Of course, Tango has an obligation to speak well of his recent owners, but at the same time, Krafton said the right words. Namely, that he didn’t take over the studio to earn a tidy sum, but to preserve and support his creativity. Talk is budget-friendly though – we’ll see if Krafton goes further. Either way, I’m looking forward to the next Tango game.
