Gamers surprised by the shadow drop of Tango Gameworks’ rock-fueled rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush following the Xbox and Bethesda Developer_Direct showcase can apparently thank Bethesda Softworks for the unexpected gift, according to new information posted online. The title for the unique Tango Gameworks game was leaked online prior to the showcase, leaving some fans of the studio to speculate as to what exactly the mysterious release would be.Formed in 2010 by gaming luminary Shinji Mikami, the director behind such beloved titles as the original Resident Evil, Tango Gameworks is known to many horror gamers for developing the bone-chilling The Evil Within franchise and 2022’s Ghostwire: Tokyo. In an unexpected about-face after years spent working on games filled with ghosts and gore, Mikami announced in 2022 that Tango Gameworks’ next game was “the complete opposite of horror” and would be helmed by The Evil Within 2 director John Johanas. It wasn’t until the comical, colorful trailer for its anime-infused rhythm beat-em-up game Hi-Fi Rush premiered during the Developer_Direct showcase that gamers were finally able to see what the studio had been working on behind closed doors.Xbox head Phil Spencer shared in a new post on Twitter that publisher Bethesda Gameworks was behind the decision to do a shadow drop release for Hi-Fi Rush, stating that “it’s fun to have some positive surprises.” Noting that Xbox Game Pass made it easy to do a surprise launch, Spencer clarified that the unorthodox release method wouldn’t be a proper fit for every game. Just hours following the surprise launch of Hi-Fi Rush, which puts players into the shoes of “defect” Chai as he and his allies wage a beat-based battle against an evil corporation, the game had already garnered praise from players and critics for offering a unique spin on the rhythm game genre.
Several gamers responding to Spencer’s tweet congratulated Bethesda and Tango Gameworks on the successful surprise launch of Hi-Fi Rush, with some users suggesting that it was a great way for Xbox to start the year off with a much-needed win. Other comments had high praise for the Developer_Direct showcase where the game was revealed only hours before its release, with one Twitter user stating that it was “the perfect format and by far the best non-E3 show Xbox has done to date.” Seemingly happy with the surprise launch, several users remarked that they’d love to see more shadow drop releases from Xbox in the future.
While a bright and cheery musical brawler may be an unexpected change of pace for a developer typically associated with ghouls and ghosts, Hi-Fi Rush is already proving to be a massive hit with gamers. Following the title’s early success, Tango Gameworks fans are surely wondering what Shinji Mikami’s next game will be.
Hi-Fi Rush is available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.