Fans everywhere were heartbroken when Xbox decided to axe Tango Gameworks, especially after the company released Hi-Fi Rush to critical acclaim and solid sales. We now know the possible reason why this studio was shut down and if it’s true, the company has made a terrible mistake.
Matt Booty, one of the heads of Xbox Games Studios, was asked about Tango’s shut down in Variety’s Strictly Business podcast (via VGC). Booty tries to be vague about the company shutting down, before essentially saying that it was a change in leadership that led to these cuts.
“There are a lot of things that go into success for a game – what leadership do you have, what creative leadership do you have, is the team the same team that shipped something successful previously?” Booty said. “We have to look at all of those things together and ask ourselves, are we set up for success going forward? And while there may have been factors or situations that previously led to success, they may not all still be in place as you look at what you’re doing going forward.”
Although he doesn’t say it, Booty is implying that Shinji Mikami leaving Tango Gameworks is why the company was closed down. Makami is a legend in the industry, working on Devil May Cry, Resident Evil 4, and The Evil Within, among other games. However, he wasn’t even the lead creative of Hi-Fi Rush, so the company should have been given another chance to prove themselves.
Simply put, Xbox is putting too much stock in Mikami’s name and the fact that they decided to close his former studio because of this is insane. Mikami was only executive producer in Hi-Fi Rush, so there’s a very good chance that the company could have made another great game without him.
Hi-Fi Rush is a brilliant game and it’s readily available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. This studio could have made even cooler games, but now they won’t get the chance.