“There is news that makes you smile,” someone else would say. At a time when layoffs and closures are commonplace in the industry, sometimes there is good news. One of Xbox’s studios is recently being revived, and with it one of its licenses.
The historic acquisition of Activision Blizzard had disastrous consequences internally. Microsoft had cut the workforce of its new acquisition and then of its companies responsible for producing Xbox-branded games before closing four of its studios. Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Roundhouse Studios and Alpha Dog have all dropped the curtain, but to everyone’s surprise, one of them is saved.
An Xbox studio rises from its ashes
Amid layoffs, studio closures and canceled projects, there is sometimes good news. Tango Gameworks will be shut down by Xbox on June 14, 2024 and won’t be out of business for long. The Bethesda studio responsible for The Evil Within, Ghostwire Tokyo and the excellent Hi-Fi Rush has already returned from the dead thanks to Krafton. The Korean group known for PUBG finally rescued Shinji Mikami’s former studio, which will then be its first Japanese acquisition. This has made Tango Gameworks a name for itself alongside Unknown Worlds (Subnautica) and Striking Distance Studios (The Callisto Protocol).
« As part of this strategic agreement, we plan to work with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks »explains the Korean giant in its official press release. Not content with acquiring several talents such as creative director John Johanas, Krafton also acquires the Hi-Fi Rush license. Hope is reborn for a sequel and the famous port to Nintendo Switch 2 that made headlines. However, Bethesda retains the intellectual property of Ghostwire Tokyo and The Evil Within.
« We will give this talented team the opportunity to further develop the Hi-Fi Rush license and explore future projects “, added Krafton. In its press release, the group reiterates its intention to encourage teams to “continue their commitment to innovation and creating new, exciting experiences.” The studio’s latest franchise had a small success on Xbox and Game Pass, with two million players a month after its release. For Tango Gameworks, the adventure continues, but unfortunately for many other studios, this will not be the case.
Source: Krafton
