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[Eddie-Griffin]

https://www.ungeek.ph/2023/02/xbox-had-no-interference-with-hi-fi-rush-development-says-director/

Hi-Fi Rush is Tango Gameworks’ latest game, and following its release, game director John Johanas shared with us how the Xbox and Bethesda acquisition affected the game’s development.

Even before Xbox moved to acquire Activision-Blizzard, the gaming giant first made waves with its Bethesda acquisition. While this meant great things for Game Pass subscribers (given the number of new games added), some were concerned about the takeover. After all, a big company taking over isn’t typically seen as good news for any creative project.

Well, it turns out that there was little to no effect on the development, not exactly surprising given how well the game turned out. When we asked about the acquisition and what it was like for the studio at the time in our recent interview, Johanas said:

“It really didn’t have any effect on the development of the game. When we were making the game and the platform wasn’t decided yet, we were just making it on a PC and we didn’t know which other platforms it was going to be on. We also didn’t know what the future consoles were going to be at that point either.

Then the acquisition happened, so that made it a bit easier for us because we were able to focus on which platforms it will be released to help us polish the experience.”

Saying that there was zero effect isn’t exactly accurate as Xbox’s acquisition did help the team narrow down its focus to only releasing the game on Xbox and PC. Aside from that though, Xbox has been hands off with their approach with Tango Gameworks.

“I think Xbox is set on having Bethesda still manage their company like they did before,” said Johanas. “So, we always communicated with Bethesda and, and ZeniMax about how the game should be. That was where all the conversations were from the beginning to the very end.

In that sense, the experience with Xbox was positive, because there was no interference in a good way. They were like ‘go ahead with what you think sounds cool.’”

Because of the game’s glowing reception, Tango Gameworks has essentially proven that it has what it takes to come up with an exciting new game. The hope here is that Xbox continues this hands-off approach as it seems to be working, at least that’s the case for Bethesda’s studios.

Full Ungeek exclusive interview with Q&A with the director here, https://www.ungeek.ph/2023/02/full-...on-the-games-development-and-surprise-reveal/

It looks like Xbox retained their hand-free approach with Zenimax after the acquisition, and they did not interfere with the development of Hi-Fi Rush, other than of course helping give them the tools and focus to release on Xbox and PC.

Sometimes the hand-off approach does work although it's had an iffy track record recently resulting in some mixed releases and delays, but Hi-Fi Rush is an example of the benefits. They were not sure what they were releasing on until the acquisition, but outside of that no micromanaging was done which gave us the game as intended by the developers.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Good or bad, Microsoft does seem to let their teams do whatever the hell they want, for however long they want.

 

[M1chl]

I think that's more of a problem than anything, this hands-off approach. Not saying that should have total control, but I think that central authority should be there. Even just for some low-level power trippy manager.

I think Sony where there is a lot of creativity, but still have their "central authority" is the best approach.

 

[Punished Miku]

Matches what everyone else has said about their management style with the acquisitions.

 

[adamsapple]

There's cases like this where no interference is a good thing. It encourages creative freedom and unique opportunities.

Then there's cases like 343i where they really should have had a firmer hand and reigned them in.

 

[Hendrick's]

Well, it turns out that there was little to no effect on the development, not exactly surprising given how well the game turned out.

 

[kiphalfton]

That's cuz Microsoft probably know they need to butt out if they want any games released.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

we knew this. people prasing and giving credit to xbox is kind of gross and fucked up.

 

[Punished Miku]

we knew this. people prasing and giving credit to xbox is kind of gross and fucked up.

Yikes.

Spoiler

Y'all

 

[Kacho]

They were pretty clear about Bethesda continuing to operate independently after the acquisition so this is non-news.

 

[adamsapple]

we knew this. people prasing and giving credit to xbox is kind of gross and fucked up.

gross and fucked up ? tell us how you really feel

 

[just_jr]

This explains the reason why everybody is liking it

 

[SmokedMeat]

A hands off approach is fine for teams that already had their shit together. Not so good for teams that don’t.

 

[Varteras]

There's cases like this where no interference is a good thing. It encourages creative freedom and unique opportunities.

Then there's cases like 343i where they really should have had a firmer hand and reigned them in.

Still blows my mind that they gave Bonnie Ross and her cronies 10 goddamn years to fuck up the crown jewel before they finally decided there might be a problem. Her ass should have been out after Halo 5 at least.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

gross and fucked up ? tell us how you really feel

that is what I said kind of. meaning not really gross or fucked up but more like

when bethesda is the one delivering the content Xbox cant even produce and get rewarded with layoffs .

 

[Punished Miku]

that is what I said kind of. meaning not really gross or fucked up but more like

when bethesda is the one delivering the content Xbox cant even produce and get rewarded with layoffs .

What if I told you Tango delivered the content and Bethesda was also gross? Bethesda literally bought Tango.

DOUBLE GROSS

 

[Ozriel]

we knew this. people prasing and giving credit to xbox is kind of gross and fucked up.

You certainly aren’t shy about giving criticism to Xbox if it’s negative news.

Let’s be consistent, pls

 

[Kacho]

Still blows my mind that they gave Bonnie Ross and her cronies 10 goddamn years to fuck up the crown jewel before they finally decided there might be a problem. Her ass should have been out after Halo 5 at least.

I’m convinced it took them a long time because they didn’t want to seem hasty in their decision to sack a female studio head. They had puff pieces written about a female taking the reins of the Halo IP.

 

[Deerock71]

Not enough Johns in his name.

 

[SLB1904]

Saying that there was zero effect isn’t exactly accurate as Xbox’s acquisition did help the team narrow down its focus to only releasing the game on Xbox and PC. Aside from that though, Xbox has been hands off with their approach with Tango Gameworks.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

You certainly aren’t shy about giving criticism to Xbox if it’s negative news.

Let’s be consistent, pls

is this positive? we knew this. in fact i pointed to this fact back in the Hi-Fi thread.

 

[adamsapple]

Not enough Johns in his name.

John Johnny Johannesonjon

 

[Clear]

Hands free apart from them saying no to a PS4/PS5 version despite it representing a sizable market for sales in Japan. LOL

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

What if I told you Tango delivered the content and Bethesda was also gross? Bethesda literally bought Tango.

DOUBLE GROSS

Bethesda has his share of grossness.
cof cof the Doom soundtrack clusterfuck most recently.

 

[Punished Miku]

Bethesda has his share of grossness.
cof cof the Doom soundtrack clusterfuck most recently.

And yet you were just giving them credit. Fucked up dude!

I'm fucking with you, but I hope you see the point here.

 

[Varteras]

I’m convinced it took them a long time because they didn’t want to seem hasty in their decision to sack a female studio head. They had puff pieces written about a female taking the reins of the Halo IP.

This is, fucking sadly, probably not far from the truth.

 

[PeteBull]

that game turned out to be actual fun to play instead of shitty soulless gaas =P

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

And yet you were just giving them credit. Fucked up dude!

I'm fucking with you, but I hope you see the point here.

i am talking about the publisher has to green lit the project. Xbox is not the developer

people giving credit to Xbox as a publisher when they didn't had anything to do with Hi-Fi.

it will be moronic to believe i am giving the credit to Bethesda as developers when i am talking about the publishers.

 

[ACESHIGH]

Dammed if you do dammed if you don't seems to be the case here for MS

 

[Magic Carpet]

Hopefully they will take some of that 343 money and send it to tango to make more games.
Send used Army boots to 343. They are going to need those boots when they march out of here. Seriously 343, there's the door.

 

[Punished Miku]

i am talking about the publisher has to green lit the project. Xbox is not the developer

people giving credit to Xbox as a publisher when they didn't had anything to do with Hi-Fi.

it will be moronic to believe i am giving the credit to Bethesda as developers when i am talking about the publishers.

I guess you didn't get the point.

 

[Topher]

Only thing I think they should have done differently was the shadow drop. This should have had more hype behind it and a fully planned out release. I really don't think Microsoft thought it would be that well received and so they just said "sure, shadow drop it". I could be wrong there, but I feel like Hi Fi Rush should have been a bigger deal than it was rather than depending on word of mouth.

Either way, great game for Xbox. That is all that ultimately matters.

 

[Punished Miku]

Only thing I think they should have done differently was the shadow drop. This should have had more hype behind it and a fully planned out release. I really don't think Microsoft thought it would be that well received and so they just said "sure, shadow drop it". I could be wrong there, but I feel like Hi Fi Rush should have been a bigger deal than it was rather than depending on word of mouth.

It was a Bethesda marketing decision to shadow drop it. MS supported what they wanted to do. They were looking to test out a new approach for distribution through GP.

They explained this in a few interviews.

 

[PeteBull]

Dammed if you do dammed if you don't seems to be the case here for MS

Absolutely not, here we are praising MS for not making the game ugly unplayable shit like it happened to many of their games , including once super popular blockbuster franchise called Halo.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Dammed if you do dammed if you don't seems to be the case here for MS

It is on them and only them to turn things around with consistency and diligence.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I guess you didn't get the point.

no u

 

[Topher]

It was a Bethesda marketing decision to shadow drop it. MS supported what they wanted to do. They were looking to test out a new approach for distribution through GP.

They explained this in a few interviews.

That's fine. I just think it could have used more publicity.

 

[Punished Miku]

That's fine. I just think it could have used more publicity.

We'll never know. But I think it worked better than they ever expected.

 

[El Pistolero]

Duh? Wasn't this the whole reason behind picking up a publisher?

 

[DenchDeckard]

Yup. Nest and worst thing about ms is tye hands off approach. They just need to know every studio can be trusted


I think only 343i was the issue.
Coalition playground etc are amazing devs.

 

[ACESHIGH]

Hopefully they will take some of that 343 money and send it to tango to make more games.
Send used Army boots to 343. They are going to need those boots when they march out of here. Seriously 343, there's the door.

They should send Bonnie Ross to mop the floors on tango offices.

 

[Topher]

We'll never know. But I think it worked better than they ever expected.

True and I'm being nitpicky. What matters is they (Bethesda/MS) delivered a great game.

 

[Robb]

Well the game turned out amazing, hopefully MS will let them do whatever they want to next as well.

 

[ACESHIGH]

Absolutely not, here we are praising MS for not making the game ugly unplayable shit like it happened to many of their games , including once super popular blockbuster franchise called Halo.

Halo infinite is FAR from unplayable. It has best in class gunplay for a console shooter. Now if we argue budget, timing and PC optimization yeah they screwed that up.

 

[Punished Miku]

True and I'm being nitpicky. What matters is they (Bethesda/MS) delivered a great game.

Not being nitpicky really. The shadow drop is a new approach for a game of this caliber. It's an interesting what if.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Was probably being developed in John's basement and Phil just wasn't aware

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

Now if only they could have done that with Rareware.

 

[Kvally]

Absolutely not, here we are praising MS for not making the game ugly unplayable shit like it happened to many of their games , including once super popular blockbuster franchise called Halo.

 

[ACESHIGH]

Now if only they could have done that with Rareware.

They did that, tenfold. Sea of thieves is way more successful than any platformer they could have put together since MS bought them.

 

[SteelCurtain 59]

- Microsoft stays hands off on bad game -Neogaf- "Why didn't Microsoft step in, they're clearly incompetent at running studios"
- Microsoft stays hands off on good game - Neogaf- "Thank god Microsoft didn't try and interfere, they're clearly incompetent at running studios"