Tango Gameworks is updating HiFi rush one last time before Microsoft closes the studio door. Microsoft announced earlier in May that it was closing three studios, including HiFi rush developer Tango Gameworks. Shortly after news of the closures, Tango Gameworks confirmed the game will “remain available and playable everywhere” and is already accessible.
The latest patch is expected to fix “minor issues.” HiFi rush, and will be deployed later on Wednesday. Tango Gameworks will continue to collaborate with Limited Run Games to release the physical version of the game. “Thank you all for your continued support,” Tango Gameworks posted from his X account.
Microsoft’s decision to close Tango Gameworks came as a surprise to many in the industry; The surprise Japanese studio launched the game early last year to critical and – what seemed – commercial success. Xbox marketing director Aaron Greenberg posted on X in April 2023 That HiFi rush was “a breakthrough hit” across “all key measurements and expectations” at Microsoft. Just a day after the closure was announced, Xbox Game Studios leader Matt Booty told staff that Microsoft needed “smaller games that give us prestige and awards” – a message that was surprising to employees, according to The Vergebecause HiFi rush is exactly that. HiFi rush had 3 million players and won many prizes, including a prestigious BAFTA win for its animation.
HiFi rush fans showed their displeasure at the closure by bombarding the game on Valve’s Steam platform, but the opposite of how it’s usually done. Review bombing is usually a negative act: people trying to lower a game’s review score on a platform like Steam. But HiFi rush players added more than 2,000 positive reviews on Steam in an attempt to show Microsoft how much they loved it and thank Tango Gameworks for their work. Several reviewers commented on the ironic nature of the studio’s closure: HiFi rush is “a power fantasy about taking down an evil corporation whose executives treat employees like fodder in the endless pursuit of wealth,” as Polygon said in its review.
HiFi rush was originally an Xbox exclusive, but was released on PlayStation 5 in 2024. Despite the studio’s closure, the game remains available on all current platforms.