This year has been a rollercoaster for Tango Gameworks, the studio behind the beloved rhythm-action game Hi-Fi Rush. Microsoft closed the studio in May, but in August, Krafton stepped in to purchase Tango Gameworks as part of a deal that transferred the IP rights for Hi-Fi Rush to its new owner. According to Krafton's head of development, Maria Park, Hi-Fi Rush 2 was already in development when Tango was initially shut down.
Park revealed to GamesIndustry.biz that Krafton "had big fans of Hi-Fi Rush and other titles, and I knew they were working on Hi-Fi Rush 2 when we started talking. We thought we could carry on that legacy and offer more creative ways to keep the game updated." She also mentioned that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was very supportive of Krafton's bid to save Tango and acquire the Hi-Fi Rush franchise, which should ensure the sequel's completion.
During the interview, Krafton also disclosed that more than the previously reported 50 employees of Tango have returned to the revived studio. "When we started talking, there were about 90; among them, a few had already found new jobs," Park recalled. "There's going to be around 70 to 80 joining us. We're also going to backfill some of the positions that are immediately in need. So the studio total will probably add up to around 90 to 100 towards the end of the year or the beginning of the next."
Hi-Fi Rush 2 currently lacks a release date, but the original Hi-Fi Rush will still receive a physical release from Limited Run Games in the future.
