Closing Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin
And on that note, esteemed studios in Microsoft’s canon were suddenly and brutally shut. In what is a move seen replicated across the industry, Microsoft’s decision to close Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin seems especially cruel. Tango Gameworks, famous for The Evil Within, produced one of the standout titles of last year in Hi-Fi Rush. Salt was well and truly rubbed into their wounds as only 24 hours after shutting the studio did Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty claim the company needs smaller, more prestige titles. If Hi-Fi Rush – winner of numerous accolades – doesn’t fit that mould, then who does? Similarly, with Arkane Austin; sure, Redfall underwhelmed but a studio of Dishonored and Prey pedigree being pushed to shift focus away from what they’re good at screams of a bad decision all round.
