The team at Tango Gameworks has been through a lot over the past few years. Due to the surprise release of their much-lauded 2023 Hi-Fi Rush, the studio abruptly shut down in May, causing an uproar among game fans around the world. Then, in August, it was announced that South Korean PUBG publisher Crafton had reached an agreement with Hi-Fi Rush to acquire Tango, giving the studio a new lease of life.
Amid such dramatic twists and turns, Tango has retained many of its staff for this new iteration. IGN spoke with Studio Head Colin Mack, Creative Director / Hi-Fi Rush Director John Johannes, and Development Director / Hi-Fi Rush Project Manager Kazuaki Egashira about Tango Gameworks’ plans moving forward.
Despite previous reports that Hi-Fi Rush 2 was in development, Mack clarified that the team was still considering their options before committing to a sequel. That said, the team was previously working on a sequel at the time of the acquisition, and it seems likely they will continue, but a sequel isn’t guaranteed at this point.
“We are positively considering a sequel,” Mack told IGN. “We’re not yet at the point where we can specifically say, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ “
Johannes added: “A lot of our staff have a lot of love for (Hi-Fi Rush), so we think we have options. We are currently in the process of considering various opportunities.”
From The Evil Within to Ghostwire: Tokyo and finally Hi-Fi Rush, Tango Gameworks is known for creating brand new games, and it seems this culture is still alive in the latest incarnation of the studio under Crafton. Egashira explained that creating new experiences is “in the DNA of Tango Gameworks.”
“Hi-Fi Rush has become popular as a new IP, but if Hi-Fi Rush stays the same forever, it will eventually become outdated,” he said. “I think Tango Gameworks is about taking on new challenges. I hope to continue working in a way that puts developers at the center, without losing our passion.”
“Not just me, a lot of development staff have a strong attachment to the hi-fi rush,” Johannes said. “Not only the game, but the characters and the world are dear to us, so I want to nurture this IP.
“On the other hand, trying new things is important. I worked on The Evil Within, directed its DLC and then directed the sequel The Evil Within 2. I don’t think I could have made another horror game at the time, because there’s so much you can do with the same material. . Trying something completely different is a risk, sure – but I think a sequel to a series is a risk in itself.”
Crafton’s acquisition of Tango GameWorks happened when studio members, facing imminent closure, began searching for a buyer. Crafton was proactive in keeping the team together and moved extremely quickly to propose and finalize acquisitions, allowing many employees to stay together. “I’m glad we were able to keep the Tango gameplay DNA intact and build games together instead of starting from scratch,” Johannes said, explaining how the team’s chemistry developed after years of working together and playing was a big part of Hi-Fi Rush’s success. .
The studio currently has about 50 employees, and Mack said they will begin hiring in late December or January 2025, growing the number to about 100. This allowed them to focus on creating a game at the same time and experimenting with new projects as well, much like how Hi-Fi Rush was initially created.
Johannes also recalls advice given to him by Shinji Mikami, the legendary developer who founded Tango Gameworks in 2010 before leaving in 2023 after the release of Hi-Fi Rush. Mikami was keen to cultivate new talent in tango, and Johannes essentially became one of his apprentices, influencing his views on how the studio would continue into the future.
“I learned from Mr. Mikami that it’s important for a director to discuss ideas for a game with their team and put the game together, rather than giving orders,” Johannes said. “He often said that if you make a game like a bonsai tree, it can take the shape of the director’s mind, but not every development staff will feel their output is reflected. In that sense freedom is very important. Of course, it is necessary for the manager to set the overall direction, but we have always valued an environment where employees can create independently, where they are only allowed to be told. It is closer to growing a tree in nature than a bonsai tree.
“Mikami places a high level of trust in its employees, which is why so many of us have stayed at Tango Gameworks for so long. I hope this culture of independence continues into the future.”
For recruitment information on Tango Gameworks, check out Krafton’s Recruitment Site. Esra Krabbe An editor at IGN Japan.
