Key Takeaways
- South Korean publisher Krafton acquired Tango Gameworks in order to preserve the studio’s legacy.
- According to Krafton CEO Changhan Kim, the team was filled with many creative employees worth pursuing.
- Around 50 developers from Tango Gameworks were transferred to Krafton’s Japanese subsidiary to work on new projects.
As a long-time fan of Tango Gameworks, this acquisition by Krafton feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s heartening to see such a talented team, responsible for gems like The Evil Within series and Hi-Fi Rush, being given another chance to create magic in the gaming world.
The leader of Krafton stated that they purchased Tango Gameworks as a means to protect the heritage left behind by the closed studio. Notably, Krafton oversees companies like Bluehole, PUBG Studios, and Unknown Worlds Entertainment among others.
Back in June, Microsoft made a surprising decision by announcing the shutdown of Tango Gameworks, their one and only Japanese game development studio. This announcement left many in the gaming industry taken aback, given that the team responsible was the mastermind behind the popular “Evil Within” series and more recently, the highly praised “Hi-Fi Rush” of 2023, a game that has become a beloved addition to Xbox’s relatively small collection of first-party games. Krafton, renowned for publishing “PUBG: Battlegrounds” and “The Callisto Protocol”, stepped in and bought Tango Gameworks from Microsoft, without disclosing the purchase price. Now, the reason behind this acquisition has been made public.
In a conversation with Game Developer, Krafton CEO Changhan Kim expressed his desire to bring as many members of Tango Gameworks over to their team, in order to preserve the studio’s legacy. Kim noted that while the developer’s games weren’t massive successes, they had a wealth of creative talent that was worth pursuing. He also mentioned that the cost of the acquisition, which seemed to be a last-minute decision, wasn’t overly expensive or cheap. However, he emphasized that the actual amount exchanged was not what mattered to Microsoft, the video game giant; instead, it was more about the significance of the move.
Why did Krafton Acquire Tango Gameworks?
- To continue the studio’s legacy.
Approximately 50 developers from Tango Gameworks were planned to relocate to Krafton’s Japanese branch, according to journalist Stephen Totilo. These team members were intended to carry on developing new projects, including an extension of the Hi-Fi Rush intellectual property that Krafton also obtained. Kim anticipates Tango Gameworks will aid Krafton in achieving its goal of expanding its game collection. Although the CEO considers a sequel for Hi-Fi Rush might not be financially viable for his company, its creation would be part of Krafton’s strategy to produce unique games instead of imitative ones.
Previously, Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, hinted at leadership issues within a dissolved studio as one reason for its closure. In 2023, Shinji Mikami, founder of Tango Gamesworks, departed the company due to a desire for increased creative freedom and a break from the survival horror genre that he was known for. Remarkably, Mikami mentioned that he had wanted to leave about eight years prior but stayed to complete ongoing projects.
Krafton has several new games in development such as the isometric roguelike, which remains undisclosed, a potential competitor to The Sims named Inzoi, and a mobile adaptation of Dark and Darker. In 2024, the company published Moonbreaker by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, along with the Indian releases for Garuda Saga and Bullet Echo.
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2024-09-19 20:03