Hi-Fi Rush Reportedly Failed To Meet Sales Expectations; Microsoft Unhappy With State Of Xbox

Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush reportedly failed to meet sales expectations, and Microsoft is unhappy with the overall state of Xbox.

Speaking during the latest episode of Game Mess Decides, Jeff Grubb, who is known for his game industry insight, revealed that Hi-Fi Rush couldn’t meet sales expectations, and that Microsoft is unhappy with the current state of Xbox.

Grubb stated that Hi-Fi Rush failed to make the money it needed to make despite getting positive reviews and its relatively low price. Based on what he’s heard, there appears to certain sales expectations for games despite being on Game Pass. He added that the company may have expected bigger titles like Halo Infinite to become a source of major micro-transaction revenue, and since that isn’t happening thus far, smaller releases like Hi-Fi Rush are being burdened by lofty sales expectations.

Update: The Vice President of Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft, Aaron Greenberg, has clarified that Hi-Fi Rush is a “break out hit” for the publisher and its players in all key measurements and expectations. According to him, the company couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with the surprise release.

He mentioned that, assuming the Activision Blizzard King acquisition goes through, Call of Duty could serve the role of a bigger title that draws in massive micro-transaction revenue, paving the way for smaller, experimental titles to exist. That said, Grubb added that it still feels like Microsoft’s decision making with respect to game management seems “sloppy”.

Later in the podcast, Grubb stated that the management at Microsoft is unhappy with the current state of Xbox. He added that the company didn’t release a first-party game in the year 2022. According to him, while that may not affect some people, it does make others regret their console purchase decision. There is hope that the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase will address things on that front, and that things will be better for the publisher in 2023.

Previously, the schedule and time for the forthcoming Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct was revealed, which, as announced by Microsoft and Bethesda, is set to happen on June 11, 2023.