Gab Hernandez 
Tango Gameworks will return under a new owner after a brush with death due to Xbox’s constant layoffs and fans are eager to know if Hi-Fi Rush 2 is happening.
Tango Gameworks has a fraught history, despite developing a library of cult classics. Founded in 2010 by Resident Evil 4 director Shinji Mikami, Tango Gameworks struggled with its finances in its first decade of existence. It was acquired in 2021 by ZeniMax Media, making it the first Japanese studio under Microsoft’s umbrella.
Under ZeniMax, the studio released Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush. Despite both games attracting an audience, with Xbox leadership praising the latter’s critical and commercial success, Microsoft still shuttered the studio. Microsoft has never revealed the exact sales figures for either game. However, fans of Hi-Fi Rush rejoiced after PUBG: Battlegrounds publisher Krafton picked up Tango Gameworks.
Will there be a Hi-Fi Rush 2?
Hi-Fi Rush 2 may happen, as Krafton actively purchased the rights to the IP alongside its acquisition of Tango Gameworks.
Krafton has acquired Tango Gameworks and plans to develop the Hi-Fi Rush IP for future projects. While Hi-Fi Rush 2 hasn’t been announced, Tango Gameworks has expressed interest in developing a sequel. Creative director John Johanas has expressed excitement over the news, sharing memes about Hi-Fi Rush’s survival on social media.
Fans loved the news of Tango Gameworks’ continued existence, and hope the studio continues to develop unique, smaller-scale games. Though Krafton hasn’t announced plans to make a sequel, the fact that the publisher acquired the rights to the IP is a positive sign.
Notably, Krafton assured fans that all of Tango Gameworks’ titles will remain available where they currently are. Whether that means the publisher will pursue the two other IPs remains to be seen.
Who owns Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within?
Zenimax still owns the rights to Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within series. This means the IPs are still effectively under the control of Microsoft and Xbox.
Krafton specifically bought the studio and the Hi-Fi Rush IP but left out the details on the rest of Tango Gameworks’ developed games. A leaked roadmap for Zenimax’s project revealed a sequel for Ghostwire: Tokyo was one of many planned projects before the unexpected closure of Tango Gameworks.
Otherwise, the future for The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo is nebulous. Krafton’s acquisition of Hi-Fi Rush implies the publisher values that IP most out of Tango Gameworks’ catalog. Hi-Fi Rush has proven it has the power to draw audiences, but only time will tell if its sequel does the same.
