Microsoft is reportedly pleased with the success of Hi-Fi Rush, and the software giant plans to reinvest in developer Tango Gameworks.
Speaking during the latest episode of Game Mess Decides, host Jeff Grubb, who is known for his game industry insight, mentioned hearing that Microsoft is extremely happy with Tango Gameworks to the point where the software giant is looking to reinvest in it. He added that Microsoft cares a lot about the studio having a bright future.
According to Grubb, regardless of how Hi-Fi Rush has performed in terms of raw numbers, Microsoft believes that Tango Gameworks is going to continue to do great things. He had previously mentioned that Hi-Fi Rush had failed to meet sales expectations. As per what he had said back then, 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 had heard, there appears to certain sales expectations for games despite being on Game Pass.
Grubb added that the company may have expected bigger titles like Halo Infinite to become a source of major micro-transaction revenue, and since that didn’t happen, smaller releases like Hi-Fi Rush were being burdened by lofty sales expectations. He mentioned that 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 felt like Microsoft’s decision making with respect to game management seemed “sloppy”.
The Vice President of Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft, Aaron Greenberg, later 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 have been happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with the surprise release, echoing what Grubb has now stated.
