It was earth-shattering news when Microsoft unexpectedly decided to close down Tango Gameworks—the studio behind the shadow-dropped Hi-Fi Rush, which quickly rose in popularity. But an unlikely savior stepped forward during the announcement. Krafton, the Korean publisher known for PUBG and The Callisto Protocol, flew to Japan to acquire Tango Gameworks and, in the moment, gained Hi-Fi Rush. However, according to the head of corporate development, Maria Park, the studio was already working hard on a new game. It appears Hi-Fi Rush 2 was in development at Tango during its closure and eventual purchase by Krafton.
While speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Maria Park discussed why she believes it’s essential to salvage creative teams and studios, saying:
When we look at Tango, all the games they’ve released were unique in their own way. Their philosophy and craftsmanship have aligned with what we pursue. We had big fans of Hi-Fi Rush and other titles, and I knew they were working on Hi-Fi Rush 2 when we started talking. We thought we could carry on that legacy and offer more creative ways to keep the game updated.
Also, the opportunity to take over the IP from Microsoft. It’s very unusual for them to sell the IP even in case of a studio shutdown. We spoke with Phil Spencer directly and we have their direct support. He has been incredibly accommodating to the needs of the Tango team. So securing the rights to this IP, we should be able to continue this successful series but also explore potential expansions and new creative directions.
According to the interview, it appears Krafton intends to continue expanding and investing in the Japanese game development market. It currently has 13 studios under its belt, including:
- PUBG Studios
- Bluehole Studio
- RisingWings
- Striking Distance Studios
- Dreamotion
- Unknown Worlds
- 5minlab
- Neon Giant
- Krafton Montreal Studio
- Vector North
- Relu Games
- Flyway Games
- Tango Gameworks
While it’s fantastic to see Krafton supporting the gaming industry in such a way, rescuing a shuttering studio on the brink, it’s curious to hear more about its business plans. They don’t want to chase trends or “replicate successful games,” as many other publishers and game developers opt for these days. They want unique titles from creative teams, and that’s beyond exciting to us!
What do you think of Krafton buying Tango Gameworks? More importantly, what do you think of Hi-Fi Rush 2 in development at Tango? Let us know in the comments below, or visit our community forums for more!
Not long ago, Insider Gaming reported on Krafton’s CEO discussing why The Callisto Protocol struggled. It’s excellent to see the publisher doubling down and focusing on creative projects instead of chasing trends!
