Tokyo, Japan – Following the recent announcement of the closure of Tango Gameworks, the studio behind hit games like The Evil Within and Hi-Fi Rush, by Microsoft, founder Shinji Mikami shared his brief reaction on Twitter. Mikami expressed his sadness at the news of Tango’s closure, a studio he established in 2010 which went on to release acclaimed titles under his direction.
With a legacy of over a decade, Tango Gameworks joined the Microsoft family after being acquired by Zenimax Media in the same year it was founded, eventually falling under Microsoft’s ownership in 2021. However, Mikami’s departure from Tango was confirmed in February 2023, after which he reportedly started a new venture called KAMUY in March of the same year.
In a recent interview with Byking, Mikami disclosed his desire to leave Tango eight years prior to his actual departure, emphasizing that his decision was not fueled by discord but rather by a wish to create opportunities for emerging talent and explore making more innovative and smaller-scale games.
The closure of Tango Gameworks is part of a larger wave of studio shutdowns by Microsoft, which also includes the termination of Redfall developer Arkane Austin and mobile game maker Alpha Dog Games. The decision has resulted in the cancellation of upcoming projects and updates, such as DLC for Redfall, despite ongoing development efforts by the affected studios.
The impact of these cuts extends beyond the closure of studios, affecting the future of projects in development and the livelihoods of employees. While Microsoft has yet to provide further details regarding the implications of these closures, the gaming industry as a whole is experiencing shifts and consolidations that may have lasting effects on the landscape. As the community navigates these changes, the legacy of studios like Tango Gameworks and the contributions of visionaries like Shinji Mikami remain embedded in the history of gaming.