GamesActionHi-Fi RushAfter a year of Xbox execs celebrating Hi-Fi Rush as a “break out hit” and saying “we don’t quit” on games like Redfall, everyone wants to know what changedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesActionHi-Fi RushAfter a year of Xbox execs celebrating Hi-Fi Rush as a “break out hit” and saying “we don’t quit” on games like Redfall, everyone wants to know what changedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Tango Gameworks)
Shortly after the surprise launch of Hi-Fi Rush, reports began to circulate that thegame was failing to meet some of Xbox’s internal expectations. Xbox marketing VP Aaron Greenberg was quick to push back on those reports at the time, saying that “Hi-Fi RUSH was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations. We couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release.”
It’s now clear that Xbox could perhaps have been abithappier with Tango, and Greenberg’s tweet in particular is getting raked over the coals in light of the studio’s shutdown and all the developers now left looking for work.
Word of warning for any Xbox studios planning to release a “break out hit” in the near future, jfc.“We couldn’t be happier”!Just the most brutal, senseless way to treat people’s livelihoods. https://t.co/WpDCAp70IwMay 7, 2024
Word of warning for any Xbox studios planning to release a “break out hit” in the near future, jfc.“We couldn’t be happier”!Just the most brutal, senseless way to treat people’s livelihoods. https://t.co/WpDCAp70IwMay 7, 2024
https://t.co/c6SPCy23Et pic.twitter.com/ufcB1vAifmMay 7, 2024
https://t.co/c6SPCy23Et pic.twitter.com/ufcB1vAifmMay 7, 2024
And yet it was not enough.What WILL be enough for you, Xbox? What do you have to do at an Xbox Game Studio to keep your job and your studio? Because apparently making breakout hit games isn’t enough. What is? Can you tell us? @XboxP3 https://t.co/kr5wufAPpnMay 7, 2024
And yet it was not enough.What WILL be enough for you, Xbox? What do you have to do at an Xbox Game Studio to keep your job and your studio? Because apparently making breakout hit games isn’t enough. What is? Can you tell us? @XboxP3 https://t.co/kr5wufAPpnMay 7, 2024
Redfall was certainly not the critical darling that Hi-Fi Rush was, but developer Arkane Austin is - or rather, was - a storied studio and Xbox executives had repeatedly pledged to support the studio as it worked to improve the game. Xbox bossPhil Spencer saidhe was a “huge supporter” of the studio,Xbox Game StudiosheadMatt Booty saidthe studio was staying open, and former Bethesda publishing leadPete Hines said"We don’t quit or abandon stuff just because it didn’t start right." All of those quotes are getting a lot of play on social media right now.
How can you believe a company when they say these things and then a year later shut down those studios.What a clown show over there. pic.twitter.com/VLBHe9DDfCMay 7, 2024
How can you believe a company when they say these things and then a year later shut down those studios.What a clown show over there. pic.twitter.com/VLBHe9DDfCMay 7, 2024
Matt Booty last June: “[Arkane Austin staying open] is the plan right now. They are hard at work on updates and continued content for Redfall.”Pete Hines in September: “We don’t quit or abandon stuff just because it didn’t start right.” pic.twitter.com/QvXJzxRWkKMay 7, 2024
Matt Booty last June: “[Arkane Austin staying open] is the plan right now. They are hard at work on updates and continued content for Redfall.”Pete Hines in September: “We don’t quit or abandon stuff just because it didn’t start right.” pic.twitter.com/QvXJzxRWkKMay 7, 2024
Remember when Microsoft said this?Well, it was bullshit. pic.twitter.com/j8qIqncPOOMay 7, 2024
Remember when Microsoft said this?Well, it was bullshit. pic.twitter.com/j8qIqncPOOMay 7, 2024
For more on 2024’s epidemic of game industry layoffs, you can read our previous coveragehere,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here,here, andhere.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”