In a new interview, Krafton CEO Changhan ‘CH’ Kim has expanded on his company’s decision to purchase Tango Gameworks, and he revealed that it’s more about the creativity put into Hi-Fi Rush than profits made from sales.
In an industry that has seen countless layoffs in 2024, Krafton CEO Changan’CH’ Kim has taken to a new interview with Game Developer to speak out on why the company he leads rescued Tango Gameworks from imminent shutdown after Microsoft included their studio in a wave of layoffs. Instead of focusing on monetary value and commercializing the studio to produce profits, the CEO’s reasoning is not business-friendly, with emphasis instead being based on the legacy of Tango Gameworks and who Hi-Fi Rush touched with its award-winning rhythmic world.
CEO Kim explains “”Although they did not have a big success in their games, we saw many creatives worth pursuing. That’s why we wanted to work with that organization” continuing with Krafton wanted to “acquire as many people as possible from Tango to continue their legacy.”
The CEO goes on to explain that his company had to make the purchase as swiftly as possible to alleviate employee anxiety and not widen the gap in their employment history. Kim also mentions that he realized Tango Gameworks didn’t “have big success in their games,” but although the company believes a sequel won’t necessarily make them money, Kim iterates “Tango Gameworks are creative. They want to try something new, and we want to do more of that.”
This is a deviation from the industry at large. Game companies continue to cut jobs incredibly quickly, with the latest round of game industry layoffs landing this week at Microsoft with another 650 jobs slashed in a reported ‘restructuring move’ that sees more funds being distributed among shareholders instead. Krafton seeks to lean into creativity instead of profit.
Lastly, Krafton’s CEO continued by explaining that he wants to acquire even more studios like Tango Gameworks to keep innovation at the forefront of game development. He says “Hi-Fi Rush might have brought in a little bit of a minus in terms of the financials, 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.”
Fans can check out the whole Krafton interview here.
