News

Yesterday’s closure of Tango Gameworks by parent company Microsoft was a deep cut for millions in the games industry. Started by legendary game auteur Shinji Mikami, the small Japanese studio gave birth to excellent games like The Evil Within, Ghostwire Tokyo, and most recently, Hi-Fi Rush.

The 2023 rhythmic action-brawler was a complete shadow-drop, yet one of the best games of the year. And why wouldn’t it, with its lively art style and hectic gameplay? However, what elevates the game even further is its curated selection of licensed music, as director John Johanas reveals.

Licensed Music Makes Up A Chunk Of Hi-Fi Rush‘s Identity

John Johanas believes the licensed songs are integral to the Tango masterpiece’s gameplay loop.

Speaking with Touch Arcade, Johanas spoke about how the underlying concept of Hi-Fi Rush revolves around feeling like an interactive music video, and how licensed music was crucial to...

Xbox’s closure of four of its game development studios – Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Games – has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. The studios were part of the platform holder’s acquisition of Zenimax back in 2021.

Several developers have spoken out in support of the shuttered studios, criticizing Microsoft’s pricey acquisitions over the past few years and wondering which studios could be next. Even Helldivers 2 director & Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt expresses sympathy for one affected studio in particular.

Johan Pilestedt Wonders Why Xbox Didn’t Sell Off Tango

Selling off Tango to the highest bidder would’ve net Xbox some money, and the studio wouldn’t have to be closed.

In a recent tweet, Pilestedt honed in on the closure of Tango Gameworks, stating that he couldn’t fathom why Xbox axed the Japanese studio instead of separating it from its first-party lineup and selling it off.

This past summer, I was invited to Dallas for the annual QuakeCon gaming celebration, and while there, I entered the haunted city of Union in an immersive demo for the new video game The Evil Within 2. After surviving the demo, I had the chance to sit down with some of the creative team from The Evil Within 2, including Tango Gameworks Studio Director Shinji Mikami (also known for his work on the Resident Evil video game series), Game Director John Johanas, and Writer Trent Haaga (Cheap Thrills, Deadgirl).

Continue reading to learn about expanding the world of the 2014 game, bringing back Sebastian Castellanos as a main character, and the emotional journey behind the surreal scares of the sequel, which is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

So, how did you all get involved with The Evil Within 2?

Shinji Mikami: Well, at first, when we finished making The Evil Within,...