In a Could 8 city corridor assembly, Xbox Video games Studio head Matt Booty instructed workers that Microsoft wants smaller-scale video games that may earn the corporate status and awards. This got here simply someday after the shutdown of Tango Gameworks, which was liable for a sport that met these precise metrics: Hello-Fi Rush.

Booty’s precise remark was, “We’d like smaller video games that give us status and awards,” which was then shared by workers in attendance with The Verge. I’ve seen some debate about whether or not Hello-Fi Rush could be thought of small since growth on it started lengthy earlier than Microsoft purchased out Tango Gameworks alongside the remainder of mother or father firm ZeniMax Media in 2021, with the sport launching in early 2023. Nonetheless, it’s considerably cheaper than Microsoft’s triple-A fare, solely costing $29.99 / £26.99, and is a far shorter expertise. Based on HowLongtoBeat, you possibly can full Hello-Fi Rush‘s story in lower than a day.

On the very least, Hello-Fi Rush is a prestigious title. Other than it being a important darling and simply the most effective Xbox unique of 2023, it’s gained a handful of awards, together with Finest Audio Design on the 2023 Sport Awards. Simply final month, it gained the award for Animation on the BAFTAs, beating the likes of Tremendous Mario Bros. Surprise and Spider-Man 2. Whereas Microsoft has by no means shared precise gross sales figures, it was apparently pleased with Hello-Fi Rush‘s general efficiency, with Xbox Video games Advertising VP Aaron Greenberg saying it “was a get away hit for us and our gamers in all key measurements and expectations” a number of months after its launch.

It’s laborious to be something however baffled at Booty’s remark when it seems like Hello-Fi Rush was precisely what Microsoft wished/wanted, but it killed the studio that made it. To rub additional salt within the wound, a separate Bloomberg report claims Tango was within the strategy of pitching a Hello-Fi Rush sequel earlier than it was shut down.

The choice to shut Tango Gameworks, alongside a number of different Bethesda studios, has already severely broken Microsoft’s picture within the eyes of players, and extra info like this may solely make issues worse. To not point out it’s certain to have left different Microsoft subsidiaries nervous about their very own futures, because the firm has demonstrated it’s keen to close a studio down even when it makes a profitable sport.