One of this year’s biggest shock drops was Tango Game\works’ Hi-Fi Rush and boy did it leave a lasting impression. However, reports circulating online have made it seem like the critically acclaimed exclusive “just didn’t make the money it needed to make.”
This bit of information comes from Jeff Grubb, speaking on the Game Mess Decides podcast, who said that Hi-Fi Rush fell short of what it “needed” to do.
“Based on what I’ve heard, it just straight up didn’t make the money it needed to make,” Grubb mentions. “And, I mean, it got good reviews, buzz was good. So where do you put the blame for something like that? And it’s like, is it the price? Was it the shadow drop? Or could it have sold more? Or is it Game Pass?”
Once the news was out on social media, you know well that armchair experts had a field day with what Grubb said. In a follow-up tweet, he says that “This was just a small, passing statement in a larger conversation. It wasn’t meant to make people worry about HFR [Hi-Fi Rush].”
Hi-Fi RUSH was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations. We couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release.
— Aaron Greenberg 🙅🏼♂️💚U – HOLD THE LINE! (@aarongreenberg) April 21, 2023
It wasn’t long after that tweet went live that Xbox’s VP of Games Marketing, Aaron Greenburg, chimed in. “Hi-Fi Rush was a break-out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations,” Greenberg said. “We couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release.”
The back and forth led to Grubb saying“ I shouldn’t havesaid ‘needed’ on the podcast,” Grubb said. “I don’t know what it needed to do. The conversation we were having was about generating revenue, and the game didn’t hit that target. But no matter what, [Hi-Fi Rush] isn’t a flop, and Tango’s future is bright.”
I shouldn'tve said "needed" on the podcast. I don't know what it needed to do. The conversation we were having was about generating revenue, and the game didn't hit that target.
But no matter what, HFR isn't a flop, and Tango's future is bright.https://t.co/eHi3knznoC
— Grubb (@JeffGrubb) April 21, 2023
As it stands, Hi-Fi Rush is one of the highest-rated games of the year, sitting at 87 on Metacritic. Reviews have been glowing across the board and it has been well-received by critics and enthusiasts from around the world. It’s also a shame we’ll likely not know how Xbox measures success with their titles but Hi-Fi Rush is a winner in all our hearts.
