{"id":1866,"date":"2024-05-07T16:30:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T16:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/microsoft-axes-four-game-studios-including-hi-fi-rush-developer\/"},"modified":"2024-05-07T16:30:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T16:30:13","slug":"microsoft-axes-four-game-studios-including-hi-fi-rush-developer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/microsoft-axes-four-game-studios-including-hi-fi-rush-developer\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft axes four game studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft axes four game studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-8589xk-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-fmt1c3-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A colourful anime-style image of characters from the game Hi-Fi Rush\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg 976w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/5198\/live\/787c8410-0c83-11ef-a38b-3938a1c533d9.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">Bethesda<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1hbb5i-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e8mq1e917\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-h3c0s8-ContributorContainer e8mq1e916\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u2in0b-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e913\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-68pt20-Text-TextContributorName e8mq1e96\">Tom Gerken<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e910\">Technology reporter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-jlwt2c-Divider e8mq1e915\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"timestamp-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-j4gvkq-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2024-05-07T15:57:06.560Z\">26 minutes ago<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Microsoft is shutting four studios, including Tango Gameworks, the developers of Bafta award-winning Hi-Fi Rush.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The Tokyo studio is being closed alongside Texas-based Arkane Austin and Canadian developer Alpha Dog Studios.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Wisconsin-based Roundhouse Games will be absorbed into Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Microsoft has not said how many jobs will be cut as a result of the closures, which are all being made at subsidiary Bethesda &#8211; which the tech giant bought for $7.5bn (then \u00a35.85bn) in 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;I just want to say that I love all the people at Arkane Austin so much,&#8221; said studio head Harvey Smith in a post on X. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Great times, hard times, we went through so much, together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Head of Xbox Games Studios Matt Booty announced the news in an email to staff, seen by the BBC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He said the move meant it was ending development on Arkane Austin game Redfall,  with &#8220;some members of the team&#8221; joining other studios.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The company plans to \u201cprovide make-good offers\u201d to players who had pre-ordered downloadable content for the game that will now never see the light of day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cThese changes are grounded in prioritising high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda\u2019s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He said there would also be  &#8220;a small number of roles&#8221; cut across Bethesda&#8217;s publishing and corporate teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"subheadline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-19w8cxh-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0\">\n<h2 id=\"A-gut-stab\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"ssrcss-1ipj56t-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">&#8216;A gut stab&#8217;<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Hi-Fi Rush was much admired by critics when it was released in 2023 &#8211; the game went on to win several end-of-year awards for its animation and sound design.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But alarm bells began ringing at Tango Gameworks after it was among the four games Microsoft released on rival consoles this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Its founder, Shinji Mikami, had already left to start his own rival studio. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The closure of Tango Gameworks means an end to the studio responsible for several popular games, including The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In a short post on X, formerly Twitter, the developer thanked its fans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Thank you to everyone who explored the worlds we created,&#8221; it said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The move has been met with criticism from gamers as well as those within the company, with Dinga Bakaba, the studio head of Arkane Austin sister studio Arkane Lyon, calling the cuts &#8220;absolutely terrible&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Permission to be human: to any executive reading this, friendly reminder that video games are an entertainment\/cultural industry, and your business as a corporation is to take care of your artists\/entertainers and help them create value for you,&#8221; he wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;For now, great teams are sunsetting before our eyes again, and it&#8217;s a gut stab.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It is the latest string of cuts to come in an industry that has already seen tens of thousands of jobs lost, with Bethesda itself already facing cuts announced in January 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">At that point, Microsoft had around 22,000 people working in its gaming division.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Tue, 07 May 2024 15:57:06 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft axes four game studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer Bethesda Tom Gerken Technology reporter 26 minutes ago Microsoft is shutting four studios, including Tango Gameworks, the developers of Bafta award-winning Hi-Fi Rush. The Tokyo studio is being closed alongside Texas-based Arkane Austin and Canadian developer Alpha Dog Studios. Wisconsin-based Roundhouse Games will be absorbed into&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/microsoft-axes-four-game-studios-including-hi-fi-rush-developer\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Microsoft axes four game studios including Hi-Fi Rush developer<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1866\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}