Hi-Fi Rush 2 pitch prepped by Tango before closure, Arkane was interested in Dishonored 3

Two of Bethesda’s key studios wanted to make new games in fan-favorite franchises before they were shut down.

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Days ago, Xbox shut down three Bethesda Softworks studios: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog. The decision was part of a new “reprioritization of resources” that would put Bethesda’s “high-impact titles” front and center. Xbox closed down the studios and re-allocated their budgets and spending accounts for other teams and projects.

The news has caused a big rift among the Xbox faithful, but frustrations rose even more once today’s news broke. Sources tell Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier that Tango Gameworks was prepping an internal pitch for Hi-Fi Rush 2 before the studio was shut down. Hi-Fi Rush is one of the most acclaimed Xbox games in recent memory–fans love it and were eager for a sequel.

Read Also: Why Xbox closed Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin

Arkane Austin was also interested in coming back home to the world of immersive sim gaming following its unsuccessful foray with Redfall. Sources tell Bloomberg that Arkane Austin wanted to return to its roots, potentially with a new Dishonored game. The last game in the franchise was released in 2016 with Dishonored 2.

Elsewhere in the report, it was revealed that Xbox’s budget cuts aren’t over and that more layoffs are planned.

Below we have pertinent snippets from the internal memo that was published by Xbox content and studios president Matt Booty.

• These changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades.
• […]This consolidation of our Bethesda studio teams, so that we can invest more deeply in our portfolio of games and new IP[…]
• These changes are not a reflection of the creativity and skill of the talented individuals at these teams or the risks they took to try new things.
• To double down on these franchises and invest to build new ones requires us to look across the business to identify the opportunities that are best positioned for success.
• […]reprioritization of titles and resources[…]