Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush IP snapped up from Xbox in surprise acquisition

PUBG: Battlegrounds and The Callisto Protocol publisher Krafton has acquired Tango Gameworks along with the rights to Hi-Fi Rush.

Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush IP snapped up from Xbox in surprise acquisition
Tom West

Tom West

Published

If you've popped all the Hi-Fi Rush achievements and are hoping for a sequel, you might still get your wish. Krafton has acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP. When Microsoft announced that it was closing Tango Gameworks earlier this year, we had thought we'd never see a follow-up for the rhythm-based platformer, so we're extremely pleased with this news.

Tango GameWorks and Hi-Fi Rush picked up by Krafton

Krafton revealed the news in a press release, announcing it was "an exciting moment in the company's global expansion and its first significant investment in the Japanese video game market." The Tango Gameworks team joins Krafton today, adding Hi-Fi Rush to Krafton's growing library of IP, which includes PUBG: Battlegrounds and The Callisto Protocol.

"As part of this strategic agreement, Krafton 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," the press release reads. "Krafton intends to support the Tango Gameworks team to continue its commitment to innovation and delivering fresh and exciting experiences for fans. There will be no impact on the existing game catalog of The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the original Hi-Fi Rush game, and they will remain available everywhere they are available today."

Microsoft acquired Tango Gameworks as part of the ZeniMax acquisition in 2021, but then announced that the developer was being closed alongside Redfall developer Arkane Austin in May of this year. It was a surprising announcement considering that Hi-Fi Rush had been called a "break out hit" in "all key measurements and expectations" by Xbox when it launched in 2023. It'll be sad to see future Hi-Fi Rush follow-ups ditch the Xbox Game Studios tag, but at least the IP will be used instead of being left in some dark, dust-ridden corner at Microsoft.

In other news from Krafton, Striking Distance Studios' former CEO recently said The Callisto Protocol team had to cut content as it was pushed to release the game early.
Written by Tom West
Tom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.
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