Summary
Tango Gameworks has confirmed that aHi-Fi Rushsequel is “positively” under consideration at the studio. 2024 was a bit of a rollercoaster for Tango Gameworks, but theHi-Fi Rushdeveloper is finally in a stable place under the ownership of South Korean publisher Krafton.
After shadow-droppingHi-Fi Rushat Xbox’s inaugural Developer Direct in January 2023, Tango Gameworks accrued widespread critical acclaim for its highly creative rhythm brawler. Many consideredHi-Fi Rushone of the best games to launch in 2023, but this year brought about shocking news. Tango Gameworks was one offour Zenimax studios to be shuttered by Xboxin May 2024, inciting outrage from gamers and leaving them dumbfounded, especially since Microsoft previously confirmed thatHi-Fi Rushwas a “breakout hit” for the company.
Amid a gloomy outlook, Tango Gameworks' fortunes overturned drastically in August 2024 whenKrafton acquired and reinstated theHi-Fi Rushdeveloper. This unexpected deal came as a massive relief toHi-Fi Rushfans and reignited hopes for a sequel. It seems these hopes weren’t misplaced, as a newIGN interviewwith Tango Gameworks head Colin Mack,Hi-Fi Rushdirector John Johanas, andHi-Fi Rushproject manager Kazuaki Egashira teases the future of the IP. Mack confirmed thatTango Gameworks is considering aHi-Fi Rushsequel “positively,“but has yet to make a specific decision about it.
Tango Gameworks Wants to “Try New Things” For Hi-Fi Rush Sequel
Johanas added that many of Tango Gameworks' developers have a “strong attachment” toHi-Fi Rush, and that he wants to “cherish this IP.” However, Johanas also emphasized the importance of trying “new things,” and said that Tango Gameworks is currently considering “various opportunities.” Egashira chimed in to express a similar sentiment, stating that creating new experiences is “in the DNA of Tango Gameworks.” He added thatHi-Fi Rushgarnered popularity as a new IP, but it would “eventually become outdated” if it were to “stay the same forever.”
Not only me, but many of the development staff have a strong attachment to Hi-Fi Rush. Not only the game but also the characters and the world are beloved by us, so I want to cherish this IP.
While Egashira’s statement may sound rather obvious, it does allude to the possibility of Tango Gameworks taking a very different approach to Hi-Fi Rush’s sequel compared to its predecessor. A senior Krafton executive previously hinted atHi-Fi Rush2potentially featuring open-world elements, which would be a significant departure from the first game’s linear level design. It remains to be seen what else Tango Gameworks may include in a possibleHi-Fi Rushsequel, but if the above comments are any indication, it’ll likely be brimming with creativity and innovation.
Hi-Fi Rush
WHERE TO PLAY
Feel the beat as wannabe rockstar Chai and his ragtag team of allies rebel against an evil robotics enhancement megacorp with raucous rhythm combat! From Tango Gameworks, the studio that brought you The Evil Within® and Ghostwire®: Tokyo (no, really) comes Hi-Fi RUSH, an all-new action game where the characters, world and combat stylishly sync to the music!CHAI VERSUS THE WORLD: Labeled ‘defective’ after a shady corporate experiment mistakenly fuses a music player to his heart, Chai must now fight for his freedom in a slick animated world where everything – platforming puzzles, enemy attacks and even the colorful gags & banter - are synced to the beat.OPEN UP THE MOSH PIT!: Take on armies of corporate drones (read: actual robots) in satisfying, rhythm-amplified combat. Time your moves to pull off flashy Beat Hits, hard-hitting special abilities and even combination attacks with your allies! Want to show off? Go further and tap into the beat to amp up your skills and earn those covetous S-rank scores.ROWDY REBELS VS. BADASS BOSSES: Lead a squad of colorful teammates and take the fight to the heart of an, er, heartless corporation. Square off with each department’s boss, from Production to Marketing to Finance, each more ready to protect the company’s bottom line than the last in over-the-top battle sequences accompanied by their own music tracks!GRAB YOUR HEADPHONES: Tap your toes to a killer mixtape of original music, as well as songs by Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, The Joy Formidable and more! Want to show off your skills to a live streaming audience? Fret not: Hi-Fi RUSH includes a streamer-friendly alternate audio mode which replaces those licensed songs with original tracks made especially for streaming Hi-Fi RUSH.
