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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

At the beginning of May, Microsoft announced that it would close Tango Gameworks- sending shockwaves through the gaming industry. Today, the Japanese studio behind acclaimed titles including Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush closes its doors for the final time. Tango Gameworks’ employee Takeo Kido took to X to document the studio’s final day and confirmed that ZeniMax Asia K.K. is also closing.

Kido worked on the visual effects in The Evil Within and Hi-Fi Rush. His series of photo posts on X give a glimpse into Tango Gameworks office in Tamachi, Tokyo. It seems that employees ordered in pizzas on their last day.

Post translation: Today is the last day of work. Today the studio will finally close.


Post Translation: (Top): Reception- this 808 plushie is not in good shape. (Bottom): The Bandai Namco Future Research Center is very close by. Construction on the building started around the time we moved to Tamachi.

The shock of the seemingly successful studio’s closure reverberated through the video game industry, with fans, industry professionals and even other studios sending messages of support and condolences. For example, New Blood Interactive’s billboard in Los Angeles paid tribute to recently closed studios including Tango Gameworks in the hours before Summer Game Fest kicked off last week. We previously reported on how Tango Gameworks devs were expressing regret at the studio’s closure while encouraging more people to play Hi-Fi Rush. It seems like the team really poured all their passion and creativity into what would be Tango Gamework’s last ever award-winning game.

Tango Gameworks was part of Microsoft-owned ZeniMax Asia K. K. and was located inside their office. The whole of ZeniMax Asia K.K, which published games under the Bethesda Softworks brand, has been shut down.

Tango Gameworks staff spend last day at studio before closure - AUTOMATON WEST

Tango Gameworks closed its doors forever on June 14 2024. One employee documents the final day at the Hi-Fi Rush developer's Tokyo office.

automaton-media.com

 

[SJRB]

I wish them all the best.

God bless you, Tango Gameworks. Thanks for the awesome games.

 

[KiteGr]

Microsoft will be haunted for this travesty...

 

[Roxkis_ii]

Bro, I would be so angry working for a studio that closes after a successful game. Microsoft are a bunch of dumb asses.

 

[Esppiral]

Ms is ruled by morons.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Never forget the positive spin of the latest Showcase with all the multiplatform games. It doesn't matter that the studio closed. Just remember, all those great games they are making coming to PlayStation 5 and switch is a reason why tango had to go

 

[FunkMiller]

Should have taken a shit on the desk. On a picture of Phil's fat idiot face.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Do better games next time, cya

 

[Gaiff]

What makes this more frustrating is how Microsoft didn’t help build this studio at all but simply killed it off.

It was founded by Mikami just 14 years ago and then bought by Bethesda, only for them to be acquired by Microsoft. Tango Gamework’s fate was thus sealed.

I really hate when those big corporations mess with smaller studios only to cause them to shut down in the end.

 

[SJRB]

Microsoft will be haunted for this travesty...

I hope Phil wakes up in the middle of the night bathing in cold sweat every... let's say at least once every two weeks for what he did.

 

[adamsapple]

Hopefully they all land on their feet quick.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Very sad especially after how well received the game was. I guess it was sales that killed them.

 

[Lorianus]

Call me cynical or anything but there are millions of people and firms losing their jobs and closing down every day, month and year without this self congratulatory pityparty on twitter.

 

[Arachnid]

Give the Evil Within license to Arkane or something. Don't let it die

 

[Interfectum]

“Make the game of your dreams, don’t worry about making it commercially viable.” - Phil Spencer in 2019

"I have to run a sustainable business" and make "decisions that somebody needs to go make" - Phil Spencer in 2024

How can anyone take this clown seriously at this point?

 

[Portugeezer]

Call me cynical or anything but there are millions of people and firms losing their jobs and closing down every day, month and year without this self congratulatory pityparty on twitter.

Wrong. We literally had people recording themselves getting laid off.

 

[balls of snow]

This one people should rage more than the dumb scalebound cancellation.

 

[Clear]

Another reminder for Japanese devs not to get involved with, and most definitely never become dependent upon, Microsoft

 

[OGM_Madness]

How long before Double Fine closes too?

Hopefully they are recording because I’d love to see how things play out. I loved Psychonauts 1 & 2 and I’m hoping Tim and his Team are cooking, but Microsoft might not care for the smaller studios after acquiring the ABK behemoth.

Also, I wonder if Sony has any interest in grabbing the remains of Tango Gameworks and launching a new studio.

 

[Ozriel]

Call me cynical or anything but there are millions of people and firms losing their jobs and closing down every day, month and year without this self congratulatory pityparty on twitter.

And there are also millions of people losing their jobs and sharing about it on social media.

 

[Dick Jones]

Phil: MS needs a Japanese studio (ignoring Tango)

Proceeds to shutter the good Japanese studio they have

Makes Japanese studios more wary of getting into bed with MS.

Career goal achievement unlocked

 

[Solidus_T]

This one people should rage more than the dumb scalebound cancellation.

Both are awful really, but the closure of Tango is definitely worse. Microsoft has managed to fumble two of the greatest video game developers of all time, Kamiya and Mikami.

 

[Snake29]

How long before Double Fine closes too?

Hopefully they are recording because I’d love to see how things play out. I loved Psychonauts 1 & 2 and I’m hoping Tim and his Team are cooking, but Microsoft might not care for the smaller studios after acquiring the ABK behemoth.

Also, I wonder if Sony has any interest in grabbing the remains of Tango Gameworks and launching a new studio.

It would fit very well under PS Studios label. They should invest in the whole place over there so that they can stick together.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Hi Fi Rush and The Evil Within duology are excellent. Thanks for get great games Tango. Should have been Ninja Theory to get canned.

 

[SpearHea.:D]

Hope all of them land roles and new jobs. And thank you for Evil Within 1, one of the best survival horrors ever. MASTERPIECE.

 

[scoobidoo112]

RIP Tango. Thanks for the amazing games! Hope they all land on their feet!

 

[Northeastmonk]

The Evil Within 1 & 2 are amazing games.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

 

[Polelock]

Hope all of them land roles and new jobs. And thank you for Evil Within 1, one of the best survival horrors ever. MASTERPIECE.

It really was, 2 was good as well. Makes no sense why they'd let such a talented and beloved studio close.

 

[FewRope]

They closed Tango and kept the people doing Perfect Dark, I dont understand anything

 

[diffusionx]

if this tweet gets a certain amount of impressions, MS will have to tell Jez Corden to go write some bullshit about the Xbox handheld.

 

[Ozriel]

They closed Tango and kept the people doing Perfect Dark, I dont understand anything

 

[MDSLKTR]

As good as the showcase was, this is still the biggest stain this generation. Might even be the career moment.

 

[RaZoR No1]

“Make the game of your dreams, don’t worry about making it commercially viable.” - Phil Spencer in 2019

"I have to run a sustainable business" and make "decisions that somebody needs to go make" - Phil Spencer in 2024

How can anyone take this clown seriously at this point?

Dreams do not pay the rent ...
Edit: Just to make sure: I do not support the closure of Tango.
MS got finally a studio in Asia/Japan and the first thing they do is the close the studio.. I would understand a to relocate them elsewhere in Japan etc. but not a full shut down

 

[Chuck Berry]

If Johanas gets some of his Tangbros together to start something and their first project is a kickstarted spiritual successor to Hi Fi, it'll be the first game I donate to. Heavily.

 

[West Texas CEO]

“Make the game of your dreams, don’t worry about making it commercially viable.” - Phil Spencer in 2019

Makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[RickMasters]

 

[El Muerto]

One of the few studios that every game they put out was a total banger. Only 4 games but who knows what they could of accomplished if they weren't shut down.

 

[FunkMiller]

Any goodwill they may have earned for that showcase is comprehensively overshadowed by the absolute bullshit they've pulled.

 

[AJUMP23]

Claim those statues. Best of luck out there.

 

[A.Romero]

Never forget the positive spin of the latest Showcase with all the multiplatform games. It doesn't matter that the studio closed. Just remember, all those great games they are making coming to PlayStation 5 and switch is a reason why tango had to go

Care to elaborate?

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Care to elaborate?

Sarcasm son, sarcasm

 

[lh032]

their sacrifice has sent a message to all japanese publisher and studion on the dark side of being acquired.

 

[winjer]

Phill, should change is name to Dick.

 

[Dacvak]

I don’t know how much money MS saved by closing down this studio, but there’s no way it can be more than the amount of damage it’ll continue to do to their overall brand. What a stupid, stupid decision.

 

[Dr_Salt]

Hopefully they all land on their feet quick.

They are all gonna get picked by Kamui, Mikami's new studio.

 

[StueyDuck]

But did they take solace In the fact that call of duty no longer has a week early beta on PS now.

The ends justifies the means - uncle Phil

 

[diffusionx]

I don’t know how much money MS saved by closing down this studio, but there’s no way it can be more than the amount of damage it’ll continue to do to their overall brand. What a stupid, stupid decision.

feels like people have already moved on, because ms made a showcase for games coming out in 18-24 months.

 

[rkofan87]

This one people should rage more than the dumb scalebound cancellation.

this and redfall guys make shit games get shut down.

 

[Last Hearth]

Microsoft is not interested in a small studio making AA/Indie games.
I think they did the right thing here. The people making those types of games should either find jobs with studios that do that or open their own indie studio.
If McDonald’s bought out your favorite local pizza joint. Would you want the to make the current pizza chefs start making burgers and fries? Or would you prefer they just shut down the pizza place and turn it into a McDonald’s, and let the pizza chefs there go and make pizza elsewhere?