In the major wave of closures, a developer who actually did everything right is now affected. Even winning a Game Award and exceeding all expectations apparently is no longer enough. The game even has a rating of 93 % on Steam.
Which game is it about? The game Hi-Fi Rush is one of the best games of 2023. The rhythm action game was nominated for five categories at the Game Awards in 2023 and ultimately won the Game Award for Best Audio Design. It is also highly praised on Metacritic, where it received 87 points.
Hi-Fi Rush required a certain sense of timing from you but also appealed to players without it. To deal more damage in the game, you can perform your attacks in time with the music. Those who do not do this still deal damage, just not as much.
The game could be completed in a short playtime of about 11.5 hours (via howlongtobeat.com) and apparently exceeded the expectations of Xbox Games Marketing Vice President Aaron Greenberg at its release, but now the studio behind the game has been surprisingly closed.
Here you can see the trailer for Hi-Fi Rush.
Exceeded all expectations and yet it’s the end
Why did the studio have to close? No one really knows. Yesterday, Microsoft XBOX announced the closure of several developer studios, including Tango Gameworks, the team behind the hit Hi-Fi Rush.
Just a year ago, the game was praised by Xbox Games Marketing Vice President Aaron Greenberg on X (formerly Twitter): “Hi-Fi RUSH was an absolute hit for us and our players in all essential points and expectations. We couldn’t be more satisfied with what the Tango Gameworks team delivered with this surprise release.”
The game won awards, exceeded expectations, and was a major success despite being a surprise release – but now the studio behind it is closed. In an email obtained by IGN.com, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty gives some hints about the reasons:
These changes are based on prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds that you have nurtured over many decades.
Does he also say something about Hi-Fi Rush? Yes, he has the following to say about Hi-Fi Rush: “Tango Gameworks is also being closed. We are grateful for their contributions to Bethesda and to players around the world. Hi-Fi Rush will continue to be available to players on current platforms.”
Tango Gameworks shared an image on X (formerly Twitter), informing fans about the closure. Tango Gameworks is not only behind Hi-Fi Rush but also Ghostwire Tokyo and The Evil Within.
For the fans, the closure is a huge disappointment; they had hoped until the end for a third installment in the “Evil Within” series. Microsoft is not only closing the developer studio of Tango Gameworks but also three other studios, with only one team moving to another studio. You can read more about it in our article: A Year After Redfall: Xbox Closes Arkane Austin and 3 Other Bethesda Studios
