Phil Spencer Criticized For Giving a Non-Answer on Tango Gameworks' Closure
Likely not a response fans had anticipated.
Amidst the numerous layoffs and studio closures that have plagued the video game industry over the past year and a half, one of the most heartbreaking was the end of Tango Gameworks, the developer of the acclaimed, rhythm-based action game, Hi-Fi Rush.
The perceived injustice of Microsoft shutting down a successful studio, coupled with the company's puzzling comments about needing more games like Hi-Fi Rush less than 24 hours after the fact, infuriated many fans online, who eagerly expected Microsoft and the Head of Xbox Phil Spencer in particular to provide an explanation of why what they had done was necessary. Recently, Spencer finally broke his silence on the matter during an interview with IGN, but his response, perceived by many as a "non-answer," only fueled further backlash.
Speaking to IGN's Ryan McCaffrey about the recent studio closures, Spencer delivered what can only be described as a textbook corporate response, repeating all the familiar phrases about it being "a hard decision for the company" and mentioning "severance packages for the affected developers", echoing the language commonly seen in layoff announcements. Adding to the community's frustration, Spencer did not specifically mention Tango Gameworks, or any other recently-closed studio for that matter, making his response seem disingenuous to some.
"The closure of any team is hard... Now is the time to focus on the team and the individuals, because it's obviously very hard for them," Spencer said. "I've said over and over again that I have to make hard decisions to run a sustainable business."
As you may have guessed, the "non-answer" given by Xbox's top-dog didn't sit well with the online community, which criticized both Spencer, for refusing to properly address Tango's shutdown, and IGN itself, for asking "softball" questions without pressing further on the topic of studio closures:
What's your take on Spencer's response? Were you satisfied with it? Leave your thoughts down in the comments!
Also, don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.
