PUBG Publisher acquires Tango Gameworks

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PUBG Publisher acquires Tango Gameworks

Highlights

  • Krafton has acquired Tango Gameworks.
  • Tango Gameworks will continue working on Hi-Fi Rush, among other IPs they own.
  • Despite the closure, ex-devs from Arkane are working on a mysterious first-person action RPG.

As a longtime gamer who has witnessed countless studio closures and game cancellations, this news about Krafton acquiring Tango Gameworks and saving Hi-Fi Rush brings a renewed sense of hope to my weary heart. I’ve seen too many beloved IPs disappear into the void, never to be seen again. The thought that I might get another visit to Krimson City or Vandelay Island is almost too good to be true!

Krafton, the company behind PUBG, recently purchased Tango Gameworks, the studio responsible for Hi-Fi Rush, following Microsoft’s decision to close it earlier in the year.

In a recent statement, Krafton announced they’re letting a skilled team carry on developing the IP for Hi-Fi RUSH , as well as investigating new projects, following their acquisition of a Japanese game studio. They also clarified that this purchase won’t affect the current lineup of games.

As a passionate fan, I’m grateful for Krafton’s decision to keep several cherished and critically acclaimed IPs alive, instead of letting them slip into the perilous realm known as “developer hell,” a place from which few games ever return. If the studio had been shut down entirely, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to revisit the eerie Krimson City in The Evil Within, or the vibrant Vandelay Island in Hi-Fi Rush again.

Tango Gameworks has yet to respond to the news.

Hope Rekindled After Microsoft’s Great Studio Purge

PUBG Publisher acquires Tango Gameworks

In addition to Tango Gameworks, Microsoft closed down Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Games, and Alpha Dog Games back in May of this year.

Workers at these studios were either terminated or reassigned to other Microsoft-owned studios such as Bethesda and Zenimax Online.

Even though Xbox had previously let go of employees at their studios, fans were taken aback by this move, especially given the acclaim Tango Gameworks and Arkane had earned. Although Tango Gameworks produced the impressive open-world game, Ghostwire: Tokyo, it didn’t generate as much revenue as they likely expected, and Arkane’s Redfall, unfortunately, was a disappointment.

As a devoted fan of Hi-Fi Rush, I eagerly joined the community in an attempt, albeit unsuccessful, to express our admiration by flooding its reviews with positive feedback. In a show of solidarity, we even took it a step further by creating petitions, appealing for the game’s or studio’s revival.

In a letter to IGN, Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, explained that the decision to close certain studios was made so they could focus on big-impact games and invest more resources into Bethesda’s collection of hit titles.

It seems they overlooked the success story of Hi-Fi Rush, as they aim to create larger games with higher profits.

In an unexpected turn of events, just a day following the official announcement, Booty expressed his preference for developing “shorter, high-profile games that can garner recognition and accolades” during a meeting. Notably, he also commended Hi-Fi Rush in the same gathering, offering a glimpse into the potentially chaotic atmosphere at Xbox Game Studios.

Even though Krafton didn’t revive Arkane Studios, fans of their games like Dishonored, Prey, and Deathloop have something exciting to anticipate – an unnamed first-person action RPG from the former developers. Based on a few released snapshots, this upcoming game appears to be heavily influenced by their previous works and is planned for a private alpha test next year.

To put it simply, it appears that there is a world beyond Xbox, and it looks promising for these mistreated studios moving forward.

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2024-08-12 13:38