Tango Gameworks will continue to make unique games after acquisition by Krafton, lead devs confirm
Tango Gameworks, the developer behind Hi-Fi Rush and Ghostwire: Tokyo, abruptly closed its doors back in May this year, much to the shock of industry professionals and gamers alike. In August, it was revealed that Tango Gameworks had been bought up by South Korean game publisher and studio owner Krafton, with plans to expand the Hi-Fi Rush IP. However, many fans are likely still concerned about whether Tango Gameworks’ future titles will still have the same distinctive qualities as their past releases. In a recent interview with 4Gamer, three of Tango Gameworks key members gave insight into studios’ future.
In the interview, Tango Gameworks’ studio head Colin Mack, creative director John Johanas and development director Kazuaki Egashira talked about the Japan-based studio’s approach to creating new IP and games from scratch. Using Hi-Fi Rush as an example, Johanas explains that often one person comes up with a unique idea for a game- which becomes the core concept. Then, the rest of the team have open discussions about it, pitching in their own ideas and shaping the core concept into a game that is distinctive yet accessible and enjoyable for many players.
Even though Tango Gameworks is now owned by Krafton, the studios’ way of working and the kind of games they make is not going to change. Rather, it seems that Krafton will help Tango Gameworks become a bigger, stronger studio than before. “Tango Gameworks goal is still IP creation.” Egashira clarifies. “While the ability and thinking required to create something from nothing cannot be acquired overnight, we have the members with the know-how to do this and we want to expand. This is where Krafton fits in.”
Tango Gameworks is currently hiring new people, seeking passionate creators who strive to come up with new ideas, and can give and receive constructive criticism. “We want to be a studio where people feel like the work is their baby, not just some task to be done.” Johanas explains.
Although they are not yet ready to make any announcements about new games, Tango Gameworks’ devs close the interview with reassuring messages to fans. “We want to make unique and interesting games for everyone who has supported Tango GameWorks up until now, so please look forward to them,” says Mack. Johannas adds that “A lot has happened this year, but Tango Gameworks itself hasn’t changed. Rest assured that the acquisition will have no effect on our future games.”
It seems that Krafton will help the revived Tango Gameworks continue to be the innovative studio that they were before.
