A Hi-Fi Rush Sequel Shouldn’t Retread Its Predecessor’s Steps in One Area

by

As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the unexpected release of “Hi-Fi Rush” by Tango Gameworks was quite the rollercoaster ride for gamers and industry insiders alike. Coming from a studio predominantly known for its horror titles, it was a refreshing change to see them dabble in colorful, rhythmic action.

At the 2023 Xbox Developer_Direct event, both Microsoft and Bethesda Softworks astonished their audience by unveiling and launching a game titled Hi-Fi Rush. Created by Tango Gameworks, the first Japanese studio within the Xbox family, this game was a third-person hack-and-slash title with a vibrant, humorous appearance and an exceptional soundtrack. While it bore resemblances to character action games such as Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, Hi-Fi Rush distinguished itself by its distinctive rhythm-based combat system that rewarded players for attacking enemies in sync with the game’s music.

So far, Tango Gameworks was primarily known for creating horror games like “The Evil Within.” Surprisingly, they ventured into a bright and cheerful genre with “Hi-Fi Rush,” which was unexpected given their lack of experience in this area. However, the game was highly praised by both fans and critics, with some even ranking it among the top Xbox-published games from the past ten years. The game’s critical success was clear, but its commercial performance was less certain, with conflicting reports suggesting it may not have sold well. If “Hi-Fi Rush” did indeed struggle financially, a potential sequel might benefit from a proper release rather than being quietly launched.

A Hi-Fi Rush Sequel Shouldn’t Be Shadow-Dropped

Despite Reports to the Contrary, Hi-Fi Rush Seemingly Wasn’t That Successful

Following Shinji Mikami’s departure from Microsoft in February 2023, Todd Vaughn, an executive at Bethesda, announced internally to Zenimax employees that Hi-Fi Rush was a huge success. He stated that the game had been one of the most profitable launches for Bethesda and Xbox in recent times and had created a strong positive wave for both the company and Tango. Approximately a month later, Microsoft officially acknowledged that Hi-Fi Rush had attracted over 2 million players on Xbox Series X/S and PC, the platforms it was initially released on. Despite not being as big as other AAA Xbox titles, these numbers were still considered respectable for a new, secretly launched video game like Hi-Fi Rush.

Just as with other Microsoft games, Hi-Fi Rush could be played immediately on Xbox Game Pass. Consequently, the 2 million player count for the game might not signify that it was actually purchased 2 million times.

As a movie enthusiast looking back at the cinematic landscape, I’ve found myself pondering over the fate of “Hi-Fi Rush” earlier this year. In April 2023, an industry insider named Jeff Grubb sparked some concerns when he reported that the game had failed to meet its financial targets. However, just like a thrilling plot twist, Aaron Greenberg, an Xbox marketing executive, swiftly took to Twitter to declare that “Hi-Fi Rush” was, in fact, a groundbreaking success for Microsoft across all key performance indicators and expectations.

In August 2024, Tango Gameworks and the IP of “Hi-Fi Rush” were luckily bought by South Korean publisher Krafton. However, the closure of the studio by Microsoft beforehand implies that their latest game may not have been very successful. The sudden release of “Hi-Fi Rush” in 2023 was undoubtedly thrilling, but the minimal promotion for the game might have significantly impacted its sales. Even when the game arrived on PlayStation 5 earlier this year, it didn’t appear to make a significant impact.

Hi-Fi Rush 2 Needs to Have a Proper Marketing Campaign

As a passionate moviegoer, I’m excitedly waiting for word on a potential sequel to “Hi-Fi Rush,” despite its initial commercial struggles. Recently, Krafton CEO Changhan Kim shared with Game Developer that he wasn’t sure if a “Hi-Fi Rush 2” would be financially beneficial, but the idea still piqued his interest. If Tango Gameworks does decide to create a sequel to their captivating action game, it would be wise for them to steer clear of a surprise release, as they did with the original. A successful “Hi-Fi Rush” follow-up requires all the marketing and promotional efforts possible if Tango and Krafton aim for a triumphant product launch.

Read More

2024-12-23 19:44