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Founder and studio head Shinji Mikami to leave Tango Gameworks

Tango Gameworks' founder and CEO, Shinji Mikami, is set to leave the studio after more than 12 years with the developer.

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Mr Pumblechook28d ago

That's disappointing that he's left as he is a genuine talent. When big companies buy out studios the staff are often offered golden handcuffs money to stay on for a set period of time so there isn't an immediate mass people drain (Sony did this when buying Bungie). He must've met the terms of his contract to leave of serving a minimum period of time and delivering a completed game.

Tango Gameworks was founded by Mikami, it was his baby, what could've made him leave it?

IRetrouk28d ago

I'm not sure, but maybe he wanted to go indie again?

DarXyde28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

It's sudden and I do wish him all the best. He's made some timeless classics. I think IRetrouk might be onto something. I don't want to feed speculation that he didn't like the work culture as a part of Microsoft Game Studios, but perhaps he just wants to do his own thing. It's really hard not to think the acquisition had something to do with it though: Tango was his baby....

I would really love to see him over at Bokeh, but doing his own thing is fine too.

Bathyj28d ago

Well in all honesty if I picked 10 games publishers I would like to work for, Microsoft would not make that list.

LOGICWINS28d ago

What happened is that he's 57 and likely wants to retire. I wish him the best as he accomplished everything he wanted to in the gaming space.

He left the studio in great hands with John Johanes (director of Hi-Fi Rush and Evil Within 2).

I remember when Toshihiro Nagoshi left RGG and there was a lot of "fake outrage". Meanwhile, Yakuza 7 was the most successful game in the franchise and Nagoshi didn't write or direct that game.

DarXyde28d ago

Bathyj,
The wild thing about that:

If you want creative freedom, definitely not Microsoft.

If you want job security... Also not Microsoft.

They certainly have the best ability to maintain talent, but as the richest, they're certainly more American and more cutthroat.

Sonic188128d ago

"If you want creative freedom, definitely not Microsoft.

If you want job security... Also not Microsoft."

I have to agree with you on that

-Foxtrot28d ago

Kind of thought he’d have done Evil Within 3 as his final game

Godmars29028d ago

@DarXyde:
By all rights that, given recourses, they should be able to make games on a consistent basis.

There's certainly little evidence of that.

Obscure_Observer27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

@DarXyde

"If you want creative freedom, definitely not Microsoft."

I´ve been seen plenty of more creative freedom on Xbox since those new studios were acquired/created than I´ve been seen on Playstation 5.

Fable
Bleeding Edge
Grounded
Avowed
Redfall
Everwild
Pentiment

Also, those who wants to do sequels and upgrade their franchises from Indie and AA to full AAA, is getting their projects greenlit and granted with support and resources to do so as Ninja Theory with Hellblade 2 and Undead Labs with State of Decay 3. It´s also known that InXile is currently working on an ambitious new IP, AAA action RPG as Compulsion Games with Project Midnight.

So if you know for a FACT that Sony is allowing more freedom for it´s developers and doing better than Xbox is doing in this current generation, bring the facts as I did.

"If you want job security... Also not Microsoft."

Why?

"They certainly have the best ability to maintain talent, but as the richest, they're certainly more American and more cutthroat."

Is that right?

https://www.videogameschron...

https://www.theverge.com/20...

https://www.asianews.it/new...

Lifexline27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

He said in an interview a while ago that he wanted to retire soon that he had one more big game and two smaller games before he did so. Maybe he finally decided to retire just Google it for the interview.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 27d ago
Elda28d ago

Guessing he couldn't deal with working for the recent owners that are MS/XB.

Orchard28d ago

He sure waited a while, no? 3 years is the longest resignation window ever.

IRetrouk28d ago

Maybe he was paid a retainer fee? Like what sony did with bungies staff?

derek28d ago

@Orchard, he waited till his contract was up. Why would a talented creator like Shinji want to work for a bloated, creatively bankrupt company like Microsoft longterm. I suspect we will see more of this.

Elda28d ago

May have been that his contract is now up & didn't want any longer to work for the company that it's now owned by MS/XB. I wouldn't be surprised if more of this will be happening within Bethesda.

ziggyzinfirion28d ago

Orchard, 3 years isn't long to be honest, he probably wanted to finish both Hi-Fi Rush until release and his contract. He does not seem interested in continuing his career under Microsoft.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 28d ago
blackblades28d ago

People said the same thing on gematsu

porkChop28d ago

I mean if you look at his resume he moves around. 16 years at Capcom on different teams, 3 years at Platinum, and now 12 years at Tango Gameworks. Maybe he just wants to do something else? It's better than Ken Levine firing over 80% of Irrational and rebranding just because he wanted to work on smaller projects.

Yui_Suzumiya28d ago

Plus Ken hasn't produced anything since BioShock Infinite

Class_Viceroy27d ago

3 companies in 30 years. Yeah he’s really on the move there whooooooa

porkChop27d ago

@Sierra

Do you have any knowledge showing otherwise? I mean back in 2020 he was already thinking about retiring, but he wanted to direct one more game before doing so.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 27d ago
Sonic188128d ago (Edited 28d ago )

That confirms Evil Within franchise won't be the same without him

porkChop28d ago

There's no guarantee TEW 3 would have ever been the same. Ghostwire started development as TEW 3 and changed direction so much they had to turn it into a different game. That's an indication that they aren't interested in making a sequel like the first two.

Obscure_Observer28d ago

I´m assuming that you don´t even know what you´re talking about.

The original was the first and the last The Evil Within game direct by him.

The Evil Within 2 was directed by Hi-Fi Rush´s director, John Johanas.

It´s sad to see him leave, but Evil Within franchise will be on good/competent hands.

Sonic188128d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Evil Within 2 actually did worse in sales old man 😂
I doubt we'll hear anything about a third entry anytime soon. The first game sold 4+ million copies. The second one sold almost four times less.

The first game was aimed at a niche audience. I think a lot of the casual players got burned by the somewhat rocky launch of the original. Also, both Kidman dlcs were essential to understand the story and not many players bought them, I can see why the sequel received less attention. I think that's why Tango decided to make it more "mainstream" both in gameplay, story and presentation. Shame it didn't meet the expectations. Without Shinji Mikami the franchise will get worse and won't be the same rather you like it or not.

Obscure_Observer28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

@Sonic1881

"Evil Within 2 actually did worse in sales and reviews old man"

Lol. And I say you´re full of sh!t. XD

https://www.metacritic.com/...
https://www.metacritic.com/...

"I doubt we'll hear anything about a third entry anytime soon."

We already hear it, genius.

https://n4g.com/news/253574...

"The first game sold 4+ million copies. The second one sold almost four times less."

Bring the source

"Without Shinji Mikami the franchise will get worse"

I doubt that. With all of Microsoft´s resources at their disposal, John Johanas and Tango Team will have everything they need to deliver a high quality AAA horror game.

Sonic188128d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Lol, the games were in the 70 😂😂 it was mediocre at best and the sales were awful for the second game. If there is a third game the sales will be even worse since it will be on game pass 😂 Look up the source yourself for the sales. The second game did way worse😂

https://steamcommunity.com/...

https://www.vgchartz.com/ga...

shinoff218328d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Obscure

I found this

https://www.vgchartz.com/ga...

Says about 1.05 million sold for evil within 2

I enjoyed it and would love a 3rd one myself.

Obscure_Observer27d ago

@Sonic1881

"The first game sold 4+ million copies. The second one sold almost four times less."

I knew you were lying. It´s not even 2x.

The Evil Within - 1.86 Million
The Evil Within 2 - 1.05 Million

https://www.vgchartz.com/ga...
https://www.vgchartz.com/ga...

Keep your FUD BS to yourself, you can´t fool me. We´re done here.

@shinoff2183

"I found this"

Thanks!

"I enjoyed it and would love a 3rd one myself."

Chances are we might get it, all easter eggs related to EW in Hi-Fi Rush points to a new Evil Within game.

Fingers crossed!

Sonic188127d ago (Edited 27d ago )

@Obscure_Observer

You're making yourself look bad. The game didn't sell well anyway 😂😂😂 BTW I don't think that's the official sales from the first game. Interesting you call me a liar when you don't even know me OLD MAN that acts like a kid 😂😂

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 27d ago
28d ago
Lightning7727d ago (Edited 27d ago )

Because when someone leaves it's always MS fault some how. despite the fact they have creative freedom and operate semi independent. Even had say on Hi FI rush handling and shadow drop. They even had a Evil Within Easter Egg in the game. Pointing out the game is in the works right now.

Maybe, I don't know... He wants to retire? Let's be mature about it.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 27d ago
XiNatsuDragnel28d ago

I guess he didn't want to deal with Microsoft imo because retirement these days varies from age to age I know Kojima is quite old as well and still makes games but I could be wrong.

blackblades28d ago

And they all still look young

DarXyde28d ago

Old?

Kojima is 59.

Hayao Miyazaki is old. Shigeru Miyamoto is old.

Koji has a way to go yet. Retirement is like 75 in Japan, and all of these gentlemen are workhorses who probably wouldn't retire then anyways.

Health willing, we've probably got at least another 20 years of Kojima in the tank, whether it's making games or movies, or writing books.

LOGICWINS28d ago

59?! Kojima certainly doesn't look 59 👀

DarXyde28d ago

LOGICWINS,

Yeah, he can totally pass for a 35 year old with salt and pepper. He's aging quite graciously.

Humble brag moment for me: I was 26 or 27 years ago when I got pulled over for speeding and they expected me to have a junior license.... With a full beard.

I think I'm on track to pull a Kojima. 🙂

Not so much now. I don't have hair anymore.

28d ago
awsm_9028d ago (Edited 28d ago )

I wonder why he's leaving a company he founded this time, especially after the successful launch of a new IP Hi Fi Rush. Early retirement?

He left capcom and platinum games too. I suspect people will be quick to blame Microsoft lol.

blackblades28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

16 years at capcom dont know the years at platinum but I wouldve left that place as well. Wouldnt blame ms but hey its the obvious reason. Probably just wanna finish up things there and move

Crows9028d ago

Well it's the only difference between before and now.

DarXyde28d ago

I agree that it's easy to blame Microsoft. As much as I don't like them, I think that's a bit too easy.

But at the same time, the timing is suspicious and he's leaving a studio that he himself founded, which is very bizarre in my opinion. That, and if it was simply wanting to move on, I feel like we wouldn't be speculating and it's easy to just say so. You typically have this mystery around departures when things have gone awry.

Orchard28d ago

Well that’s a shame - but he leaves behind a great studio after ~13 years, and a set of great IPs with Evil Within, Ghostwire and Hi-Fi Rush.

Flakegriffin28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Sadly, with Microsofts track record, he left a great studio in the hands of a company that has no idea what to do with their other studios.

28d ago
northpaws28d ago

@Stonehottruth

When you releases one good game every 12 months, of course there would be more concurrent players lol, Horizon is a old game for PS gamers, I finished in last April.

28d ago