Hi-Fi Rush 2 appears to be like like a certainty following PUBG firm Krafton’s acquisition of Tango Gameworks.
Microsoft shocked the online game world when it closed Japanese studio Tango Gameworks earlier this yr as half of devastating cuts that noticed 1,900 employees let go from its gaming enterprise.
Three months later Krafton introduced its intention to purchase Tango Gameworks. Solely the Hi-Fi Rush mental property was introduced over as half of the studio switch from Microsoft-owned Zenimax Media to Krafton, leaving the likes of The Evil Inside and Ghostwire: Tokyo behind.
In a brand new interview with (*2*), Krafton’s head of company growth Maria Park was requested in regards to the firm’s plan for the Hi-Fi Rush franchise following the acquisition. Park mentioned Tango Gameworks desires to convey the primary recreation to different platforms, equivalent to Nintendo Swap, and desires to work on Hi-Fi Rush DLC. Somewhat than rush out a sequel, Tango Gameworks desires to “take the mandatory time to refine the sport and give you a distinct expertise,” Park added.
However what of the sequel? Park revealed that not solely was Tango Gameworks engaged on Hi-Fi Rush 2 when Krafton first met with the workforce, however it had a six month outdated construct prepared, with the purpose of providing a extra open world kind of recreation after the linear degree design of the primary.
“Sure, the workforce was engaged on Hi-Fi Rush 2 once we first met them,” Park mentioned. “They need to make certain [it] surpasses the expectations of the prevailing followers. As an example, some of the suggestions about Hi-Fi Rush was that some folks felt it was [just] going by way of factories, so now they need to give a extra open world kind of expertise. I do not suppose it is going to be fully open world, however a extra dynamic setting [that] you play in. Additionally, having extra superior know-how utilized to the rhythm motion in order that it feels extra synchronized.”
Park continued: “I believe the construct that we checked out was about six months outdated once we went to meet with them. For the time being, as a result of the IP acquisition is in progress, it has been on maintain as a result of all of the associated property and instruments will probably be transferred to Krafton from Microsoft. However sure, we’ll proceed engaged on it for positive. Like I mentioned, we can’t actually rush to the market simply to ship a sequel. We would like to guarantee that the sequel is definitely at a high quality degree that surpasses the group’s expectations.”
In the meantime, Park confirmed Tango Gameworks was engaged on anniversary content material for The Evil Inside, which is now unlikely to see the sunshine of day. Park additionally mentioned that by the top of the acquisition course of, round 70 to 80 of Tango’s 90 employees could have joined Krafton. “We’re additionally going to backfill some of the positions which might be instantly in want,” Park added. “So the studio complete will in all probability add up to round 90 to 100 in direction of the top of the yr or the start of the following.”
Park additionally teased that Tango Gameworks has a brand new co-op on-line recreation beneath growth, and that Krafton will convey its live-service experience to bear and “assist convey it to the following degree.”
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You may attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.