The Daily Populous Sunday May 12nd, 2024 evening edition
Authored by gamesradar.com and submitted by opreaadriann

A Tango Gameworks developer has reacted to an Xbox executive reportedly asking for more "smaller games that give us prestige and awards" with a picture of Hi-Fi Rush's awards.

In the wake of Microsoft shutting down four Bethesda-owned studios earlier this week, including the Tokyo-based Tango Gameworks, one Xbox executive reportedly asked for "smaller games that give us prestige and awards" in an internal meeting. Hi-Fi Rush's director reacted to the news with something akin to a massive eyeroll, and now another Tango Gameworks developer has responded.

Posting on his personal Twitter account, former Tango Gameworks project manager Kazuaki Egashira tweeted out images of the awards Hi-Fi Rush had won over the past year from around the gaming industry, with the caption "not enough?" Egashira's message is a direct response to the Xbox executive requesting more award-winning games.

Hi-Fi Rush won a total of five developer awards over the course of 2023. The awards include one for animation from BAFTA Games, audio/sound awards from the CEDEC, Game Awards, and Game Developer's Choice awards, and the Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game from the New York Game Awards. That's to say nothing of outlet-granted awards.

Hi-Fi Rush players have been mourning the game, and the studio that made it, over the past week, wondering how anyone could possibly be safe from cuts from corporations that were able to shutter an award-winning and beloved studio. Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, who founded Tango Gameworks and departed the studio just last year, called the move "sad."

Elsewhere, an Xbox president swerved questions about closing Hi-Fi Rush and Prey teams, saying "success for each game and studio is really unique."

forlorncorned on May 11st, 2024 at 13:47 UTC »

Microsoft is quickly killing any good will we had towards them. Very embracer of them.

N6K152 on May 11st, 2024 at 12:14 UTC »

Isn't his point more of "Not good enough reason too keep the studio?". It's pretty shit that ppl who doesn't put an effort to develop the games are the one decides the fate of studio...

Slylok on May 11st, 2024 at 12:12 UTC »

The problem is that MS wants Stardew Valley level of success out of small studios.

It is the same problem as everyone chasing AAA games that make GTA , MMO or Mobile levels of money.

Just an unrealistic expectation.