Hi-Fi Rush fans mourn studio closure despite critical acclaim and millions of players: "what hope is there for anyone?"

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Hi-Fi Rush's story offers an added touch of irony

Hi-Fi Rush
(Image credit: Tango Gameworks)

Fans are paying tribute to Hi-Fi Rush, after developer Tango Gameworks was closed by Microsoft with immediate effect yesterday.

May 7 brought the disastrous news that Microsoft was shutting down Tango Gameworks, as well as three other Bethesda-owned studios, immediately. This came a year after Xbox executives celebrating Hi-Fi Rush as a "breakout hit" for the platform, and so fans understandably wanted to know what had changed to put a lot of people out of work.

Today, Hi-Fi Rush players are coming together to celebrate Tango Gameworks' action game. Just below, for example, you can see a handful of incredible artworks from fans on Twitter showing just how much Hi-Fi Rush meant to them, and how it inspired them to create the pieces we're now seeing.

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Others, meanwhile, are pointing out the painful irony of Tango Gameworks being shuttered given Hi-Fi Rush's very anti-corporate storyline. Protagonist Chai and company set out to take down corporate overlords making live miserable for everyone, and the message Tango's game wholeheartedly bears is one of not trusting corporations.

Elsewhere, others are pointing to Hi-Fi Rush's accolades to prove the absurdity of Microsoft shutting down Tango. The tweet below, for example, rightly points out how Hi-Fi Rush bagged a Game Award, a BAFTA Award, and many outlet-bestowed awards in 2023.

Resident Evil creator Shinji Makami has also reacted to the news of Tango's closure, calling it "sad." Mikami departed the studio that he helped found just over one year ago in February 2023, and developers still at the studio until yesterday have also added their own voices to the proceedings. 

Marvel's Blade and Deathloop director says Microsoft's closure of sister studio Arkane Austin is a "f***ing gut stab."

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.