Microsoft is set to expand Tango Gameworks thanks to the recent success of the studio’s latest title Hi-Fi Rush. The brief announcement om Twitter alongside the opening of 30+ additional jobs towards the studio. Hi-Fi Rush is Tango Gameworks best selling recent title despite it shadow dropping on the Xbox Game Pass for free.
This news came about amongst ongoing discussions around rumors doubting the validity of Hi-Fi Rush’s success. Things boiled over when Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb alleged that Hi-Fi Rush didn’t make the money that it was expected to make on his Game Mess podcast. Grubb clarified his statements on a Twitter thread after some backlash stating that he “didn’t know how Microsoft measures success” and that his comments were “just a small, passing statement in a larger conversation.”
Xbox Game Marketing VP Aaron Greenburg gave a brief statement in defence of Hi-Fi Rush as the rumors continued to pick up steam.
“Hi-Fi RUSH was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations,” said Greenburg. “We couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release.”
Jeff Grubb added towards his initial comments in a response to Greenburg.
“I shouldn’t have said ‘needed’ on the podcast,” Grubb said. “I don’t know what it needed to do. The conversation we were having was about generating revenue, and the game didn’t hit that target. But no matter what, HFR isn’t a flop, and Tango’s future is bright.”
That said, respite Grubb’s comments, speculation on Hi-Fi Rush’s success continues. And while it’s unknown whether Microsoft will release an official statement on the rumors, the tech company going out of it’s way to expand Tango Gameworks heavily implies that Hi-Fi Rush hardly underperformed.