Krafton acquires Tango Gameworks, Hi-Fi Rush IP from Xbox

[Julius]

Korean company Krafton have acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP. 

 

Well, holy hot damn. Nobody saw this coming. 

From Windows Central, who clarify that Ghostwire: Tokyo and Evil Within will both be IPs staying at Xbox. 

Quote

Microsoft closed Tango Gameworks earlier this year, as part of a round of layoffs that saw various Xbox studios closed. Tango was known for games like the aforementioned high-octane rhythm-brawler Hi-Fi Rush, as well as survival horror franchise The Evil Within. Tango was initially established in 2010 by Shinji Mikami of Resident Evil fame, with the studio coming across to Microsoft as part of the ZeniMax acquisition.

"Krafton Inc today welcomed the talented people of Tango Gameworks to their team, marking a exciting moment in the company's global expansion and its first significant investment in the Japanese video game market," the press release reads. "This strategic move will include the rights to Tango Gameworks' acclaimed IP, Hi-Fi RUSH."

The fact Hi-Fi Rush is heading across also heavily suggests that a sequel will most likely emerge from the partnership. However, franchises like Ghostwire: Tokyo, and The Evil Within will remain with Microsoft. Both Krafton and Microsoft emphasized that there will be no impact on the existing catalog of games, which will remain available in Xbox Game Pass and other storefronts they're presently on.

In a statement to Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson shared the following: "We're working with Krafton to enable the team at Tango Gameworks to continue to build games together and we look forward to playing their next great game. There will be no impact to the existing catalog of Tango games."

Awesome stuff, great to hear it.

Another move in which Korean companies continue to expand and diversify in the gaming space; doesn't seem like they plan on going anywhere anytime soon, that's for sure. 

Edited August 12 by Julius

[drahkon]

Good for the devs and the IP.

Still: Fuck Microsoft for closing the studio. They can stick their "we're working with Krafton blabla" where the sun don't shine.

[Dcubed]

That's crazy that they actually managed to get Microsoft to sell, and even retained the staff.  Ultimately it's yet another example of the Japanese industry losing talent to Chinese & Korean publishers, but still; nobody can really complain with the outcome here, even if Krafton are reportedly a pretty awful publisher if the stories about The Callisto Protocol's development are anything to go by.

Now, if only someone could convince Microsoft to sell Rare's IPs back to Nintendo, we'd really be cooking!

Edited August 12 by Dcubed

[Hero-of-Time]

9 minutes ago, Dcubed said:

That's crazy that they actually managed to get Microsoft to sell, and even retained the staff.  Ultimately it's yet another example of the Japanese industry losing talent to Chinese & Korean publishers, but still; nobody can really complain with the outcome here, even if Krafton are reportedly a pretty awful publisher if the stories about The Callisto Protocol's development are anything to go by.

Yeah, it's a bit of a monkey's paw situation. Great that the studio has been saved but bad given the people who have saved it. I enjoyed Callisto Protocol but there was no way it should have been released in the state it was in. The developers just weren't given the time they needed.

[Glen-i]

I mean, if the alternative is Tango don't exist anymore, then I'll take it.

Hi-Fi Rush was an absolute pinnacle of gaming last year, so I can only hope Krafton knows what good potential they have here, and let the process happen at it's own pace.