In May, Microsoft pulled out the big hammer and quickly closed the Tango Gameworks studio. The loss of the forge behind The Evil Within and also the brightly colored rhythm game Hi-Fi Rush caused fan hearts to bleed. But now there is new hope for at least one brand.
After Microsoft closed it in May 2024, the future of Tango Gameworks initially remained uncertain. But in August, Korean publisher Krafton finally stepped into the breach and took over some of the Japanese studio’s employees and tons of brands. Including, of course, Hi-Fi Rush, which turned out to be a real surprise hit at the beginning of 2023.
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At the time of Krafton’s takeover, Tango Gamesworks had reportedly been working on Hi-Fi Rush 2 for six months. Due to the circumstances, production was of course initially put on hold. Fortunately, Maria Park, head of corporate development at Krafton, told Gamesindustry.biz that the game will be further developed.
They also want to focus on fans’ feedback in order to give them the best possible experience. For example, some players said that the levels seemed too slow for them; Hi-Fi Rush gave the impression that you were just moving through factories.
However, you don’t need to expect a real open world. Instead, the world should be more dynamic, which suggests open hoses. In addition, more advanced technology will be used to make the rhythm mechanics feel smoother and more precise.
Incidentally, Krafton says they are aware that Hi-Fi Rush 2 won’t make them a lot of money. Instead, they want to “preserve the legacy,” which almost sounds too noble.
The previously Xbox-exclusive title Hi-Fi Rush is now also available for Sony’s PlayStation 5.
