Krafton has saved Tango Gameworks, Reopening The Studio And Rehiring All Staff
Tango Gameworks is back in business after PUBG developer Krafton Inc made an offer to Microsoft. As part of the deal, the South Korean publisher will pick up the rights to the Hi-Fi Rush franchise, along with all previous staff who worked at Tango Gameworks when it was closed in June 2024.
In a statement posted by Krafton, the publisher is looking at expanding their operations and intends to collaborate with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks, allowing the talented team to continue developing the Hi-Fi Rush IP and explore future projects.
Tango Gameworks was established in 2010 and quickly became a hit-making studio, producing The Evil Within, Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush. The studio became part of Xbox Game Studios when ZeniMax (Bethesda, id Software, Arkane) was acquired by Xbox in 2021.
Hi-Fi Rush was shadow dropped onto Xbox Game Pass in 2023 to much acclaim from fans and critics alike. The rhythm game was well received and ended up winning several awards including ‘Best Animation’ at the BAFTA Games Awards, ‘Best Audio Design’ at The Game Awards, and a Game Developers’ Choice award for ‘Best Audio.’ PS5 and Switch versions followed in 2024, but that wasn’t enough to save the studio from Microsoft bosses who closed Tango Gameworks along with several other studios to focus their attention elsewhere.
Despite all previous IP like The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo staying with Bethesda, it’s refreshing to hear that Krafton has rescued the studio, and more importantly, all the staff that previously worked there. As things are always changing in the world of video games, we don’t know how long Krafton’s goodwill will last if the next game isn’t successful. For now at least, it seems fans can be happy knowing that more of Chai and Peppermint’s adventures in Hi-Fi Rush are on the way.
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