Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks has officially relaunched as Tango Gameworks Inc. under the stewardship of new parent company Krafton.
“We’re excited to continue crafting games that bring joy to players around the world,” reads a post on X. “Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this new journey.”
It’s a moment that marks a fresh start for the studio. Tango was shuttered by former owner Microsoft in May 2024 amid layoffs and closures at the Xbox maker, which also resulted in the demise of Alpha Dog Games and Arkane Austin.
Tango was deemed surplus to requirements by the company despite launching Hi-Fi Rush a year earlier. The title was called a “break out hit” by one Xbox exec, but that couldn’t save the studio from closure.
Krafton takes over the Tango
It was, however, granted a second chance by PUBG maker Krafton, which acquired the Japanese company from Microsoft in August 2024—months after Tango looked dead in the water.
At the time, Krafton said it intended to “maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks, allowing the talented team to continue developing the Hi-Fi Rush IP and explore future projects.”
Speaking to Game Developer about the acquisition a few weeks later, Krafton CEO Changhan ‘CH’ Kim said the move was about preserving the legacy of Tango Gameworks and described it as a “last minute deal.”
Kim acknowledged that projects like Hi-Fi Rush might not rake in cash, but suggested studios like Tango should be encouraged to experiment with new ideas regardless.
“We wanted to maintain their legacy,” said Kim. “Although they did not have a big success in their games, we saw many creatives worth pursuing. That’s why we wanted to work with that organization.”
Krafton acquired the Hi-Fi Rush franchise alongside Tango, and a sequel is very much on the cards. Discussing how Tango would look under Krafton, Kim claimed the studio would look to hire “a minimum of 100 people,” including many former employees.
“Perhaps they’ll need a bigger team. We haven’t decided on that, but we don’t plan to reduce the size of the team at all,” added Kim. “They have to work on new projects as well, so there is a great possibility the team will scale up even further.”