Acquisition of Tango Gameworks by Krafton
Krafton, the publisher known for games like PUBG: Battlegrounds and The Callisto Protocol, has recently acquired Tango Gameworks. Tango Gameworks, the studio behind The Evil Within games and Hi-Fi Rush, was closed down by Microsoft and ZeniMax Media in May.
In a statement, Krafton expressed its intention to work with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition for Tango Gameworks. The talented team from the Tokyo-based studio will now join Krafton, which has also gained the rights to Hi-Fi Rush.
The acquisition will not impact Tango’s existing game catalog, which includes titles like The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the original Hi-Fi Rush. Hi-Fi Rush is currently available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
History of Tango Gameworks
Tango Gameworks was founded in 2010 by Shinji Mikami, known for his work on the Resident Evil series at Capcom. The studio’s first release was The Evil Within, a survival horror game that garnered critical acclaim. Tango Gameworks became part of Xbox’s roster of studios following Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax in 2021.
In 2023, Tango Gameworks achieved success with the release of Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-action game that differed from their usual dark and violent offerings. The game was a surprise addition to Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service.
Industry Developments
Following Microsoft’s announcement to close several studios under the Bethesda Softworks umbrella, including Tango Gameworks, former developers from Arkane Austin have unveiled a new first-person action RPG at Wolfeye Studio. The closure affected studios like Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Mighty Doom developer Alpha Dog Studios, with staff from Roundhouse Games being reassigned to other projects.