Xbox studios boss says it needs smaller, award-winning games one day after closing Tango Gameworks

One day after closing Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, Xbox studios boss Matt Booty reportedly told staff the company needs “smaller games that give us prestige and awards”.

According to The Verge, Booty addressed staff at a town hall meeting on Wednesday following the shuttering of several Bethesda Studios. 

While it could be debated exactly how ‘small’ the title is by Microsoft‘s own definition, the platform holder has, in the past, described Hi-Fi Rush as one of its “smaller” games.

Hi-Fi Rush won the 2023 CEDEC award for sound, the 2023 Game Award for best audio design, the Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game from the New York Game Awards, a GDC award for best audio, and a BAFTA for animation.

Following the publication of Booty’s comment, Hi-Fi Rush director John Johanas seemingly reacted by posting a screenshot featuring an exasperated character from the game.

Hi-Fi Rush earned a Metacritic score of 87 on Xbox Series X (90 on PC), and 96% of critics recommended it on Open Critic. 

Following the announcement of the closure, former Tango Gameworks boss Shinji Mikami wrote on X, formerly Twitter “Tango close. Sad.”

Hi-Fi Rush was the final game released by the studio before Mikami’s exit, and the first not directed by the veteran Japanese developer.

In the fallout of Tuesday’s news, it’s claimed that both Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks were in the process of pitching new titles. A new report from Bloomberg claims that Arkane was looking to return to its immersive simulation roots. 

Following the closure news, Arkane Lyon boss Dinga Bakaba called the move “a fucking gut stab” in a public social media post. Bakaba is currently working on Blade, Xbox’s first exclusive collaboration with Marvel Games.