As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of the gaming industry like the tides of the virtual seas. The recent closures and layoffs have left me feeling like a shipwrecked sailor on a desolate island, far from the vibrant shores of thriving game studios.
2021 has been a challenging year for me as a gaming enthusiast, with many video game studios facing layoffs and closures. Companies like Firewalk Studios (the team behind Concord) and Neon Koi have felt the impact most recently. However, it’s not just them; even giants like Microsoft have had to let go of approximately 2500 employees and shut down studios such as Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin.
Despite some attributing the closure of the studio to the underperformance of Redfall, Raphael Colantino, the former Arkane president and founder, maintains that it was not a wise choice.
In simpler terms, Colantino told PC Gamer, “It’s clear that Arkane Austin was an exceptional team capable of creating amazing things. I believe they could do it again, but unfortunately, they had to make tough choices. Perhaps these decisions were made to satisfy investors or the stock market, but they’re playing a different game.
After departing from Arkane in 2017 and launching WolfEye Studios, which debuted Weird West in 2022 (and appears to be developing a new sci-fi RPG), Colantino expressed uncertainty about why Microsoft decided to close the studio. “Their methods of operation might not align with our understanding,” he said. “It’s challenging to comprehend their reasons. The only thing I can confidently assert is that the specific decision to terminate Arkane Austin was not a wise choice.
He believes that duplicating the unique charm of such a group is, quite frankly, unattainable. It’s not just about time; it involves capturing the special alchemy of individuals like Harvey [Smith] and Ricardo [Bare], who, when they come together, create something exceptional. This magical moment in time and space was not easily achieved; it took a long time to perfect. When these specific individuals collaborate, true magic happens.
It’s not as simple as ‘We can just rehire.’ Big organizations often attempt to recruit in large numbers and overcompensate employees to form exceptional teams. However, it’s not always effective. To me, that approach seemed foolish, but who knows?
Despite Arkane Austin no longer being operational, Tango Gameworks was rescued by Krafton who took over its operations and the Hi-Fi Rush IP from Microsoft. The publisher has been building anticipation around Hi-Fi Rush 2, positioning it as an open-world game with more interactive environments. Development on the sequel temporarily halted following Tango’s closure, but it will resume again shortly. Keep an eye out for further updates in the meantime.
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2024-10-31 15:41