Earlier this week, Microsoft closed multiple Bethesda studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall studio Arkane Austin. The news sent waves throughout the gaming industry, even receiving criticism from its own talents. According to a new report, Hi-Fi Rush 2 and a potential new Dishonored game were in the process of being pitched to Microsoft before the sudden closure of both studios.
In a recent report from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, a highly reputable source of industry and insider information, Arkane Austin had been looking to return to its roots by focusing on making another “immersive sim” game after the critically panned Redfall. They had reportedly pitched the idea of a new single-player game “such as a new entry in the Dishonored series” to Xbox executives. Arkane Austin was shut down earlier this week.
Tango Gameworks was apparently also in the process of pitching Hi-Fi Rush 2 to Xbox executives following the award-winning success of the first game. Microsoft had previously called Hi-Fi Rush “one of the most successful launches for Bethesda and Xbox in recent years.”
Unfortunately, it looks like neither are happening at this point after Microsoft made the decision to shutter both studios. Microsoft has yet to provide a justification for closing down so many Bethesda studios – included in the mix was Alpha Dog Games and Roundhouse Studios, the latter of which had been absorbed into The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios.
Judging by recent PEGI ratings, Hi-Fi Rush might still be on track to launch on Nintendo Switch soon, though it may leave quite a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth after this fiasco. While it was kind of expected that Arkane Austin would face some heavy repurcussions for Redfall‘s failure, nobody could’ve predicted that Tango Gameworks would also be on the chopping block, especially after Microsoft spoke so enthusiastically about the success of Hi-Fi Rush and Ghostwire: Tokyo.
Source: Bloomberg
