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Games Industry Reacts to Tango Gameworks Closure: "Why?"
Daneel Elijah
Gold Member
Still hilarious AND somewhat relevant today. "TLOU won't last forever!"
If Xbox dared to do this so close to their conference they either think they have something to make us forget about it, don't care as they have COD now, or are in so much shit that they had no other choice. Pick your poison.
Embearded
Member
Need more info on that!
Klayzer
Member
Hey, don't let facts get in the way of a good ole Sonytoo shindig. Got to incorporate Sony somehow with Xbox bad news.
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Thick Thighs Save Lives
Gold Member
Killer8
Member
Considering everything MS studios makes is Game Pass fodder now, how are they even measuring the success of these studios? The engagement numbers for Hi-Fi was supposedly very good and it scored highly. The whole point of MS buying up these studios was to develop content for the Game Pass service, which Tango did far more than others. I just don't understand the long term plan here of need content -> buy studio -> studio makes content -> close studio. It's going to cost them a massively inflated amount of money for content creation.
polybius80
Member
in a certain way it sounds like disney, they bought so much just to burn it allTango?
OK, wtf MS......
No hi fi rush 2? This industry is a Joke and MS are one of the biggest
How can you buy up half the industry to then close studios.
vaibhavpisal
Member
BTW, as per VGinsights:
Revenue generated: 16.6 million
Units sold: 722k
This is on steam alone. Game definitely was profitable.
Revenue generated: 16.6 million
Units sold: 722k
This is on steam alone. Game definitely was profitable.
FunkMiller
Gold Member
obsidian:
Them and Ninja Theory are out the fucking door. Almost guaranteed.
Skifi28
Member
The plan is there is no plan. They bought a bunch of small studios to bolster gamepass. "Sales don't matter, it's all about engagement." But once it became clear that gamepass stopped growing and they spent 100 billions they had to make back, the new plan is we need sales so whoever doesn't is axed no questions asked. I wonder what the new plan next week will be.
Ass of Can Whooping
Gold Member
"We hear you"
crackajack
Member
Isn't it maybe the other way around? The studio was closed because the major name was lost and took probably also some people with him? There was a functioning relationship between him and Bethesda and possibly also Sony, but once he was on his way even a critical success did not persuade anyone at MS that there is a future with the remaining people.
Weird. As though it is a knee jerk move, not even trying to do anything with them.
If there is anyone worth something in CEOing a studio, they could just regroup. If the remaining people are worth something, and have ideas for new games, they should be able to get a publishing deal. Or maybe just follow Mikami to whatever he does now. Or individually get positions at whoever needs them. Redfall on your resume does not help much, but HiFi-Rush should at least not be a problem, quite the opposite.
Dick Jones
Gold Member
Yesterday I was angry that Tango got punished for sloppy Xbox marketing.
Today, I'm just laughing at the stupidity of Xbox's decision. It's so fucking stupid. It's not surprising when you have Matt Booty in charge, so the blame is mine for expecting competence from current Xbox leadership.
Today, I'm just laughing at the stupidity of Xbox's decision. It's so fucking stupid. It's not surprising when you have Matt Booty in charge, so the blame is mine for expecting competence from current Xbox leadership.
HeWhoWalks
Gold Member
“And we’re listening, although I’m not sure who it helps”
bitbydeath
Gold Member
Titled - “Snapped”
Punished Miku
Member
Madame Moon Knight. Best I got
Thick Thighs Save Lives
Gold Member
Here's a few reactions from a couple of Tango Gameworks devs who worked on HiFi Rush courtesy of Automaton West:
Post translation: My work is mostly fun, but working on Hi-Fi Rush was hands down the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had.
It’s a truly interesting game, and I’d like everyone to see how cool the cutscene animations are… I think you’ll be able to feel our passion when you play the game! If you’re feeling sorry for this guy who suddenly lost his job, please give the game a go! Lol
The poster of the tweet above is Yosuke Ishikawa, a 3D artist who until recently worked at Tango Gameworks. A presentation in which he demonstrates his work on The Evil Within 2 can be found on Youtube. More recently, he worked on the 2023 rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush, which he describes in the tweet above as the most enjoyable job he has ever had. Ishikawa hopes that people who have yet to play the game will pick it up and appreciate all the effort that Tango Gameworks put into the title. Some of Ishikawa’s vibrant character art for Hi-Fi Rush, among other Tango Gameworks games, can be found on his Artstation page.
Another character modeler who worked on Hi-Fi Rush expressed similar sentiments to Ishikawa:
Post translation: Hi-Fi Rush showed up as trending on X but I’m not happy about it at all (lol). But I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who hasn’t played the game yet to give it a try. I really worked hard on it!
Whatever the reason, if you see this tweet, please think of it as some kind of fate and play the game.
Post translation: My work is mostly fun, but working on Hi-Fi Rush was hands down the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had.
It’s a truly interesting game, and I’d like everyone to see how cool the cutscene animations are… I think you’ll be able to feel our passion when you play the game! If you’re feeling sorry for this guy who suddenly lost his job, please give the game a go! Lol
The poster of the tweet above is Yosuke Ishikawa, a 3D artist who until recently worked at Tango Gameworks. A presentation in which he demonstrates his work on The Evil Within 2 can be found on Youtube. More recently, he worked on the 2023 rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush, which he describes in the tweet above as the most enjoyable job he has ever had. Ishikawa hopes that people who have yet to play the game will pick it up and appreciate all the effort that Tango Gameworks put into the title. Some of Ishikawa’s vibrant character art for Hi-Fi Rush, among other Tango Gameworks games, can be found on his Artstation page.
Another character modeler who worked on Hi-Fi Rush expressed similar sentiments to Ishikawa:
Post translation: Hi-Fi Rush showed up as trending on X but I’m not happy about it at all (lol). But I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who hasn’t played the game yet to give it a try. I really worked hard on it!
Whatever the reason, if you see this tweet, please think of it as some kind of fate and play the game.
azertydu91
Hard to Kill
There's a lot of infos about this in the closed next gen tech thread that I am too lazy to find right now.
But basically there was a discord full of Xbox fanboys coordinating fud campaign against ps5 battaglia was part of it but others too.
tommib
Member
They should have a PS5 version ready for release. It’s where the audience for that game is. Putting it on gamepass has killed the game already.
Dirk Benedict
Member
Supposedly, FO3R is going to be announced/shown soon.
Don't understand either. This is shitty as fuck. I understand some of the studios, but Tango???Tango?
OK, wtf MS......
No hi fi rush 2? This industry is a Joke and MS are one of the biggest
How can you buy up half the industry to then close studios.
Imagine doing a good job only to get canned.
MS should just leave the industry and stop behaving like they're inserted on a office or windows market.
Embearded
Member
Time well spend!
j0hnnix
Member
Typical of a large corporation. The shareholders govern the decisions. Company I just recently left posted earnings that were all positive but layoffs in the 100s if not close to 1000 continue every qtr. Cash cow has to be milked and the employees are the tits getting squeezed until they cant squeeze out any more.
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Roxkis_ii
Member
I didn't even think of Microsoft just selling the studio. Surely someone would want to pay something for them after making such a surprise breakout hit. Hi-if rush actually gave Xbox a lot of positive momentum. To think this is how Microsoft repays the studio.
The other Xbox studios morale must be in the absolute dirt right now and I don't envy any of them.
The other Xbox studios morale must be in the absolute dirt right now and I don't envy any of them.
eerik9000
Member
These are useless estimations which can vary wildly.
All-time peak CCU on Steam was only 6,132. For comparison, Forspoken, which was released the same week and was a complete failure by all metrics, had 12,579 CCU.
alphachino
Member
30-minute lunch breaks instead of 1 hour
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
Makes me want to replay The Evil Within 1 & 2. I had a great time with those games. Honestly the reason I payed so much attention to Tango was due to Shinji Mikami. Hi-Fi Rush was great too.
Reminds me of when Irrational Games closed their doors. Judas looks amazing, so maybe everyone can land on their feet. You also don’t hear about the men and women who make it all happen. The narrative usually follows the well known people. I hope none of them are homeless because of this. That is what would suck. If you picked up your life, moved, and then the studio gets shut down. There’s no real job security. It’s like an acting gig in Hollywood.
Reminds me of when Irrational Games closed their doors. Judas looks amazing, so maybe everyone can land on their feet. You also don’t hear about the men and women who make it all happen. The narrative usually follows the well known people. I hope none of them are homeless because of this. That is what would suck. If you picked up your life, moved, and then the studio gets shut down. There’s no real job security. It’s like an acting gig in Hollywood.
vaibhavpisal
Member
I remember reading here, VG insights had most accurate predictions that matched with Insomniac’s leak.These are useless estimations which can vary wildly.
All-time peak CCU on Steam was only 6,132. For comparison, Forspoken, which was released the same week and was a complete failure by all metrics, had 12,579 CCU.
But sure, its not a confirmation.
DaGwaphics
Member
Most of the games just cost too much to make. Shouldn't be an issue in MS's case, but I've read about some that take out so many loans in the process of completing a game that if the budget isn't recouped it necessitates the sale or closure of the company. That just screams poor planning from the beginning.
Shakka43
Member
Yeah let's not talk crazy here now. Japan Studios closing was Sony basically killing their old PlayStation identity and becoming a new one centered only on Western Marketing.
tommib
Member
It can get worse. There’s still a high chance to turn Bluepoint and Housemarque into auxiliary studios for Marvel DLCs.
DanielG165
Member
I like Xbox, I like their games, Halo and Forza are two of my favorite franchises in gaming… But I absolutely cannot support nor understand this, at all. This was the most brain dead, corporate, money hungry decision I’ve ever seen them do, and it’s no surprise that they’re catching nothing but heat for it. MS don’t care what people like me on a video game forum have to say one bit, but they’re most definitely feeling the ire from the rest of the industry, and they should; it’s deserved.
This to me is simply another giant sign that the video game industry is a massive, suits-led, money focused joke at this point. I thought Sony trying to force people to sign into their proprietary network to play their game on PC, and then locking territories out completely was bad. But this… This is something else, man.
This to me is simply another giant sign that the video game industry is a massive, suits-led, money focused joke at this point. I thought Sony trying to force people to sign into their proprietary network to play their game on PC, and then locking territories out completely was bad. But this… This is something else, man.
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diffusionx
Gold Member
Probably just wear a Spyro t-shirt
midnightAI
Member
Well the question is, could they not have sold Tango rather than just shutting them down? (not sure if that is legally possible)
Edit: If I was Sony for example I would have bought them and persuaded Shinji Mikami to come back and work on whatever he wants (no more horrors if that's what he wants).
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Close down studios who create not big sellers but something with creative and cultural value. Aquire Activision that releases nothing of creative value and only the lowest cultural value possible for 75 billion dollar.
It's pretty clear that these companies don't see games as art and something creative but purely as something to print money.
Very sad.
It's pretty clear that these companies don't see games as art and something creative but purely as something to print money.
Very sad.
Chuck Berry
Gold Member
Ill save you guys the clicks
kotaku.com
Hi-Fi Rush Was The Hit Xbox Needed, And It Still Wasn't Enough For Them
Xbox hasn’t had something as vibrant as Tango Gameworks’ rhythm action game in a long time
kotaku.com
nowhat
Member
Roger, roger.
Little Chicken
Member
A lot of handwringing and zero facts.
This is probably like the Scalebound situation, where MS wasn't at fault at all and the studio was a complete mess.
This is probably like the Scalebound situation, where MS wasn't at fault at all and the studio was a complete mess.
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Ass of Can Whooping
Gold Member
Little Chicken
Member
Ass of Can Whooping
Gold Member
So Kamiya apologising on his side of the failure somehow gives you insight into Microsoft's role?
HeWhoWalks
Gold Member
FIREKNIGHT2029
Member
Phil is due for another lifetime achievement award
clarky
Gold Member
How much worse(better) would the industry be if they just shutter every studio and called it a day?
Sure that would be a lot people out of work short term but think of all the new studios and new IP's we'd get in the longer term after all the good people founded new studios or jobs elsewhere.
Put all these IP's to bed, it would be like a soft reset for the industry.
Phil would have to sign a napkin in blood or something vowing never to work again.
Sure that would be a lot people out of work short term but think of all the new studios and new IP's we'd get in the longer term after all the good people founded new studios or jobs elsewhere.
Put all these IP's to bed, it would be like a soft reset for the industry.
Phil would have to sign a napkin in blood or something vowing never to work again.
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SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Where do you even go when the industry has been experiencing rampant layoffs?
Little Chicken
Member
He couldn't make an online game with UE4 in 2017, that's not on MS. MS were gracious enough to keep their mouths shut and not point fingers.So Kamiya apologising on his side of the failure somehow gives you insight into Microsoft's role?