Krafton Doesn’t Expect Big Profits from a Hi-Fi Rush Sequel

Earlier this year, Microsoft made the surprising decision to shut down Tango Gameworks, an iconic developer in the gaming industry, as part of broader cost-cutting measures. This move shocked the gaming community, with many expressing disappointment at the sudden closure.

However, just a few months after the closure, Krafton—the publisher behind PUBG—stepped in to acquire Tango Gameworks from Microsoft, bringing relief to fans and saving the studio from disappearing entirely.

Now, Krafton CEO Changhan 'CH' Kim has opened up about the acquisition and what the future holds for the studio.

"We Wanted To Maintain Their Legacy"

In a conversation with Game Developer, Kim explained that Krafton’s purchase of Tango Gameworks was a “last-minute deal” aimed at preserving the studio’s legacy. Though the acquisition didn’t include all of Tango’s intellectual properties (IP), Krafton managed to secure the fan-favorite Hi-Fi Rush through a special arrangement.

Despite this, Kim admitted that Krafton doesn’t anticipate a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush being a major financial success. “We don’t think Hi-Fi Rush 2 is going to make us money, to be frank,” Kim said. Instead, he emphasized that Krafton’s focus is on taking creative risks and continuing to develop innovative games. “It’s part of our attempt. We have to keep trying [to develop games] in the spirit of challenge-taking,” he added.

A Vision Beyond Profit

Kim’s candidness in the interview is refreshing, especially in a year where many companies have been focused on layoffs and cutting costs. “Just recoup the production costs, please,” he remarked. He further shared his belief that focusing solely on predicting hits is not the right approach: “If you try doing that, you might actually land a big hit. I don’t trust people who say, ‘Oh, this is going to be a hit.’ I want someone who can try something new.”

Kim’s philosophy for Krafton is clear. “The big hit shouldn’t be your goal. If you think about it that way, Hi-Fi Rush might have been a slight loss financially, but it’s a team that should be encouraged to create something new and continue their journey. We want to have more teams like that under our umbrella.”

By fostering creativity and innovation, Krafton is positioning itself as a publisher willing to take risks, nurturing teams that are passionate about developing unique and exciting games—even if they aren’t guaranteed to be blockbusters.