Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that it would be closing down multiple Bethesda studios including Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and other developers. This led to the cancellation of planned new content for Redfall and two pitches – for both Hi-Fi Rush 2 and a potential new Dishonored game – being nulled. Xbox recently held a town hall meeting with employees to discuss the events, stating that it needs more games like Hi-Fi Rush to “give us prestige and awards.”
As reported by The Verge, Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty spoke to employees at a town hall meeting recently, discussing the studio closures and layoffs at Microsoft this past week. “We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards,” said Booty in one instance. By all accounts, Hi-Fi Rush was a relatively smaller game compared to Tango’s previous titles like Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within. Hi-Fi Rush went on to win Best Audio Design at The Game Awards in 2023 along with numerous other accolades.
“We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards,” said Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, in a Microsoft town hall today 👇https://t.co/DRjRTYUu3X
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 8, 2024
It could be argued that Hi-Fi Rush isn’t exactly the “smaller game” Booty is referring to since it came from a well-funded company like Tango Gameworks, though the game was previously referred to as such by Xbox executives in the past, as pointed out by Warren, not to mention that it sold for only $30 as opposed to the usual industry standard labelling premium games at $60-$70.
In related news, Xbox is reportedly planning more cuts and an increase to the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The company is also debating whether it should bring future Call of Duty games to the subscription service or not.
Source: The Verge
