Hi-Fi Rush Was a "Break Out Hit" for Microsoft According to Aaron Greenberg

Today Microsoft Xbox Games Marketing VP Aaron Greenberg commented on the performance of Tango Gameworks' rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush.

[BandarHub]

Rare to have hack-and-slash games on consoles nowadays. Hopefully, this team will be able to rival Platimum
Tango game works need to increase the size of their team.
3 dev teams.
Team 1: Horror
Team 2: Hack and Slash
Team 3: Experimental games.

This whole Jeff Grub debacle is so overexaggerated. Based on someone who say something that its seem like....Hi fi rush did meet sales expectations.

[sparky77]

They are increase there team size they announced today in fact: https://twitter.com/Hazzado...

And yeah HFR was a massive hit, it's still the highest rated game this year on Open Critic.

Apparently they are making a JRPG next which is something Xbox really needs.

[SDuck]

Rare to have hack-n-slash games nowadays, period. Man, I need dmc6 so bad!

[BandarHub]

A dying genre and we need more studios to keep it alive.
The most popular Hack and slash franchise God of war has ditched its combat for over-shoulder melee combat.

[Jin_Sakai]

Just Greenberg doing damage control after the news broke.

“Microsoft Isn’t Happy With The State of Xbox, Grubb Says; Hi-Rush Didn’t Make Enough Money“

[BandarHub]

That Whole idea of expecting Hi fi rush to sell despite it not having a physical release, being on game pass on subscription, and shadow drop is not a recipe for sales.
The metric for measuring its success is something that Jeff Grubb doesn't even know about so when his source said that it did not seemingly meet sales expectations is lost in mistranslation.
The measure of success for Gamepass games according to me is the reach of players.
2 million gamers have played the game that big for a game that was announced in the way it was.

[gangsta_red]

Jeff "trust me bro" Grubb

https://twitter.com/JeffGru...

[SoulWarrior]

Bet the two other replies to this laud Jeff's usually pro Xbox stance and leaks...

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I'm really surprised that “Microsoft Isn’t Happy With The State of Xbox" isn't a top article here on N4G and I saw it in several places today while using my phone during lunch.

[shinoff2183]

Bandar,now physical sales matter. Thought this was digital for life

Also this Jeff Grubb wasn't he the guy that broke the news of kojima working with xbox. O when its good news it's fuck yea, when it's bad news it's pos liar

Gotcha

[Asplundh]

I don't think they would had gave the ok for them to spend $68 billion if they were upset with how things are going with their Xbox division.

[fr0sty]

Team Xbox is saying "this game is doing great", meanwhile everyone else is saying it failed to meet sales expectations and lost money... so which is it?

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[IamTylerDurden1]

But MS says sales don't matter so who cares?

Hi Fi is overrated anyway outside of beautiful visuals and production. Level design, rythm, music, platforming, even combat all average. I thought Hellsinger had better music, rythm, and i enjoyed it more. Fake GotY buzz for Hi Fi is a jk. I'm having more fun with Loop Hero and Atomic Heart tbh.

[Flewid638]

Really? I feel like I have an endless source of hack & slash options on console lol.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Good job Tango even though in rumors it didn't met expectations

[darkrider]

Dude, it didn't that's why they are reacting. That's why they made this tweet.... But we aren't all morons...

[Abracadabra]

What the hell does Microsoft know? Only Sony fanboys know when a game is a success or not. /s

[crazyCoconuts]

Well it is kinda easy for us. If it's on Playstation, it's a success... 😉

[Abracadabra]

@crazyCoconuts

At least you're honest.😂

[CBaoth]

really, cuz I don't know how is this news? Unless you can't accept reality. Games don't sell on Xbox. MS already admitted this in court. Xbox sells half of the PS5. Half of the Xboxes sold are the welfare SKU, the series G. When half of your miniscule customer base can't afford to buy games what did think the results would be? Does Vaas need to remind people about the definition of insanity? Sad when you have to expect sales from competing platforms to prop up your portfolio

[badz149]

it's really not THAT hard to figure out. NPD (or whatever it's known as now), just released sales data for games and they updated their year-to-date game sales,

https://www.vgchartz.com/ar...

yes, STEAM included. remember when the game launched xbox fanboys were quick to claim that it sold very well because it was around the top of the best seller list? dollar-sales wise doesn't look like the game is selling all that well as it's not even in the top 20 in xbox's biggest market.

if it really is doing well, why not Greenburg try and provide real data to debunk this NPD data? no?

[shinoff2183]

Ms won't even come out and say what their key expecting for games are. That's bad

[Abracadabra]

@badz149
Every week boxofficemojo releases top moves box office. There aren't any Netflix, Amazon, Apple, etc, original movies on the top. OMG, ALL OF THEM ARE FLOPPING! /s

Hi-Fi Rush doesn't have to be on the NPD charts to be considered a success. Gamepass will determine if it's a success or not, just like Netflix's, Amazon's, Apple's subscription service will determine if their movies are a success.

Forspoken charted on NPD and we all know that's a giant FLOP. Maybe a subscription service would have saved that train wreck...

[Crows90]

We'll you're not wrong. Sony fans know when Sony announces sales. Microsoft doesn't announce sales so Sony fans kinda have to do the hole hint hint with Xbox fans.

[badz149]

@Abracadabra

I knew some of you would mention Forspoken. haha...does it hurts you guys that Forspoken is charted but Hi-Fi Rush isn't?

the games in the chart are selling, thus they make money per copy sales. Hi-Fi Rush not charting means, it sells way less than Forspoken, PERIOD! back in 2019, xbox fanboys were making fun of Days Gone and Anthem but at the end of the day, both was in the top 20 NPD but Gears 5 wasn't and worst yet, Gears 5 was not even in the top 10 of xbox bestsellers but Anthem was! so...following your xbox logic, Gears 5 was a huge success too ha?

https://venturebeat.com/gam...

xbox fanboys will believe anything Phil and Greenberg say despite not providing any numbers to prove it.

[Abracadabra]

@badz149
Typical! You understood nothing what I said.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I actually thought it would have done better, especially since it was one of the better Xbox games in recent memory, even more surprised it didn't sell well on Steam when it was plastered all over the store after being announced.

[darkrider]

The real news isn't this. It's damage control from Microsoft . Hi fi floped. It's everywhere. From GameSpot to Forbes. Microsoft can say whatever they want now. It's already being talk also everywhere in social media.

And I think no one is really surprised.

[BandarHub]

This is the real news...Even Jeff Grubb the source doubted was not sure what was said. Even in Shiji Mikami Tango game works themselves said the games were a big success. Jeff Grubb speaks from his ass most of the time.
The fact that seeing people happy about the fake news that the game underperformed is the sad part. Imagine going around saying his game has failed and rejoicing over a rumour that the game has failed.
Pathetic

[blackblades]

Well people know Greenberg is a liar. Which most people are going by, can't trust anything he says PR.

[Abriael]

The fact that mediocre websites with zero journalistic integrity often turn the speculation from clout-chasing "insiders" into fake news doesn't make it true. 😏

It's hilarious that nowadays "trust me bro" is enough to make news at certain outlets. 😂

There's a reason why that kind of crap is banned here on N4G. And thank goodness it is.

[darkrider]

Mediocre sites? It's everywhere. And it's not just Grubbs a well know leaker.

Is such a lie that Microsoft is damaging control everwhere. The bottom line gp is destroying sales of games... Go watch dreamcast guy...

[Abriael]

It's only on mediocre sites, because only mediocre sites without any journalistic integrity would create news from someone's "trust me bro" statements with zero backing.

"well known leaker" is just another way to say "charlatan." 😂

You want to desperately believe him only because it fits your console warring needs.

[Jin_Sakai]

What’s funny is that this was coming from a pro Xbox insider. And it’s all over the internet which is why Greenberg did damage control asap.

[BandarHub]

"Go watch dreamcast guy"
Dreamcast guy...really this guy is hilarious...that's your news source. What a joke
Listen, man, I kinda feel sorry for the fact that you follow that guy. He regurgitates misinformation mixed with his own personal opinion which is terrible.
If you need a news source, you need to not take things at face value with articles, you are your own news source. Make clear distinctions as to which publication is biased towards a certain platform and look at the other publications' bias as well. From their form your own opinion, you will be able to see which one is full of shit and which one is trying to manipulate information.
Don't follow the likes of Dreamcast guy. I suggest that you unsubscribe from him.

[darkrider]

News source... he just put the tweet and gave access to what is being talked on social media by multiple journalist.

The reality they are talking its not new. Microsoft gamers don't buy games. Gp is destroying sales of games no matter if they have quality or not. Hi fi is just another casualty. Even in gp it got 2 million downloads? Not a flop? Huge flop. 80% or more didn't even care, when Microsoft doesn't have new games... It's just scary.

It's a model that can't survive for long. That's why the talk of cutting down on services, TV and others. Numbers are falling everywhere. The pandemic is over.

Dreamcastguy is not amazing but if you compare to coltweatwood.... Even a turd made by Microsoft is groundbreaking to him. The damage control he tried to do with redfall gameplay it's just ridiculous and he got slammed on social media. He is one of the paid youtubers of Microsoft that try to change and manipulate the reality

[sparky77]

So MS say it didn't flop so you don't believe them, but you believe unsourced rumours.

Yet when everywhere is saying PSVR2 sales flopped it's lies and only Sony is the real source.

You guys are looking desperate now.

[darkrider]

Believe in Microsoft? Are you kidding? After showing redfall running at 60 frames on pc and telling it was on series x. That kind of company? You gotta to be joking.

[thesoftware730]

Cheers, my guy.

Comment of the day.

[Obscure_Observer]

@sparky77

Perfect!

[gangsta_red]

Was it this Jeff Grubb?

https://twitter.com/JeffGru...

Or was it this Jeff Grubb?

https://twitter.com/JeffGru...

"And I think no one is really surprised."

Yeah, it's actually no surprise to see the same usual suspects doing the same usual, tired schtick.

[thesoftware730]

Dark,
You run off of nothing but emotions; nothing you ever say is based on facts that have any real point, it's all your feelings. When your 'feeling' are met with logic and facts, you deflect and move on to spew a different unrelated feeling, without realizing or acknowledging you were being irrational at best.

Exhibit A:

You completely believe the RUMOR that the game did not do well, without hesitation, without an official word, all on a reported rumor.

Sparky77,(his post below) responds to you with this:
"So MS say it didn't flop so you don't believe them, but you believe unsourced rumours.

Yet when everywhere is saying PSVR2 sales flopped it's lies and only Sony is the real source.

You guys are looking desperate now."

A very sound comparison, using logic to show your hypocrisy. Then realizing he had your card, had you dead to rights, this is what you said:

"Believe in Microsoft? Are you kidding? After showing redfall running at 60 frames on pc and telling it was on series x. That kind of company? You gotta to be joking."

You completely moved away from his example of your hypocrisy, you talked about Redfall, completely unrelated to anything he said, you forced it in as if they were related to show MS character, through all that you never once mention his main point.

Why do you believe the same media outlets that reported PSVR low sales now? but not then?
It's a simple question, and maybe you can answer it, but you did not and I suspect any answer will be just more of the same, your feelings urging you to spew negatives towards MS, with nothing based in logic or facts, and lacking any real end point.

[gangsta_red]

I would like to know when did MS tell everyone that the gameplay shown for Redfall was running on Series X

[EasilyTheBest]

Well said TheSoftware...
His arguments are like a child's.

[darkrider]

Sorry but I'm not talking about Sony this was about the flop of hi fi rise. Of course he couldnt accept and try use psvr to counter. I don't know the number of psvr2, but if the media told it were low, it's bad.

That doesn't change the fact that hi-fi rise is a another flop. Why? Because it didn't move consoles and Microsoft didn't brag about how many subcribers it got or use that metric, with zero value, that 20 minions play it.

[Petebloodyonion]

Let me get this straight,

When Bloomberg makes similar claims about PS VR2 lackluster sales they are not credible and should not be trusted despite the fact Bloomberg is an international reference media in economics.
Instead, we should only trust the real information coming from PlayStation.
despite seeing countless PS Vr2 headsets sitting on shelves.

But when Jeff Grubb from a basement knows a guy that says Hifi Rush tanked well that information is REAL and Microsoft is surely lying when they mentioned that the game was a hit for them.

[Moe-Gunz]

PSVR2 isn’t sitting on shelves because unless I missed something they can’t be purchased in store

[Petebloodyonion]

In Canada you buy them at GameStop or Bestbuy.
I expect the same for USA but don’t know for Europe.

[Petebloodyonion]

The purpose of this statement is to respond to Gamespot story that HIFi Rush supposedly failed to meet expectations.

[hotnickles]

Did gamepass get boosted tho? They probably aren’t looking at it like it’s 1999. Releasing everything on gamepass day 1 should lower your expectations into the dirt. You would think at least lol

[hotnickles]

I’m not comparing it to any game I’m not in the nerd wars.

It’s just an honest opinion. I don’t know if gamepass got a boost, I’m asking. If they got a massive boost because of hifi maybe that’s the successful expectation they were looking for. And maybe Forbes and the “flopped in sales” advocates are looking at it in a traditional model of sales expectations which is ignorant.

MS isn’t working on that model anymore. I would assume that anyways by launching day 1 gamepass. If MS expected massive sales then they are stupid.

[SinisterKieran]

Wow…somebody who works at microsoft complimenting the game

[Knushwood Butt]

'Break Out Hit'

I didn't read the tweet, but where's the data? How many copies sold?

[Chevalier]

He's the VP of marketing so of course he's going to try to spin it. Notice they could point out sales or engagement numbers and didn't.

[RpgSama]

Sold? LOL, it sold like crap, they measure "success" by how many people pressed A on the start menu.

[-Foxtrot]

Industry Rumour: "I heard X, Y, Z game didn't do well sales wise"

Company in Question: "X, Y, Z game did really well"

[NotoriousWhiz]

Game pass games aren't meant to sell well. So this is obvious. It's illogical to release a game on a subscription service and expect high sales.

[Thundercat77]

Says Greensburg, the same man that blatantly lied to everyone saying 60fps would be standard on Xbox Series 😂.

Everyone knows this man is a liar.

[Knushwood Butt]

Yeah, but it's not an anonymous lie, so that's OK.

[Godmars290]

And likely because MS had little to nothing to do with it. There's a lesson to be learned there, but its doubtful they'll realize it.

[UltimateOwnage]

Amazing what happens when MS / their bought out studios make new games.

[BrainSyphoned]

It broke out to Game Pass so hard I couldn't pass it up.

[Sonic1881]

There's an article that states that Microsoft isn't happy with the state of the Xbox and Hi-Fi rush 🤔

https://youtu.be/7eX0DNyxGJ...

[gangsta_red]

Dreamcast Guy? This was the same guy who had a sad farewell to arms speech when the CMA approved the ABK deal.

...I would definitely trust him...

[Sonic1881]

I don't know who to believe anymore. Microsoft doesn't let anyone know if they're not happy. They just play along with it

[Vengeance1138]

Damage Control at it's finest!

[Brazz]

"Aaron Greenberg commented..."
lol, yeah, i don't take this guy seriously. I mean, It's his job to defend xbox, but sometimes he can be toxic and realy promote console war.

[gold_drake]

i mean, lets say it was, thats a sad estimate that a smaller game gets mentioned so much by them, cause it was "successful".

like when you get a B on a small test, but Fs all year around. "see i did well then!!"

[anast]

The game wasn't that successful. This is getting low. The VP knows everyone can look at how many people are actually playing the game that bough it. Go over to Steam and see that Kerbal Space program is just as successful as this break out hit.

[GoodGuy09]

This should've also came to switch and PS as the game seems to appeal those markets more. Also... it's on GP so obviously sales won't be as high as it could be.
Shame as the game is really amazing.

[Chevalier]

Its really a shame. If this game came out to the Switch and Playstation I imagine it would have done well. Cutting out Playstation/Nintendo gamers is a terrible idea for Bethesda. 120 million PS4s/ 35 million PS5s / 120 Switches = 275 million potential customers just gone is a substantial market to miss out on.

Xbox only is guaranteed sales failure. Will be the same for basically most Bethesda IPs new or not going forward.

[darkrider]

They will just destroy those studios. They don't have market and sales will always be low, because Microsoft gamers don't buy games, they rent them.

The talk about hi fi rise is just that. No matter how good the games is the sales will always be very low and Never this model will be able fight againts a 70 dollar sale multiply for millions.

[randomvoice]

VP of marketing says it was successful without disclosing any numbers or anything concrete. Just a 'trust me bro' lol. Sure bud. Whatever helps the fanboys sleep. Someone please ask greenturd about what 'expectations' did it beat because MS literally shadow dropped the game without any marketing so basically they didn't have any belief in it to even make noise. So of course it beat the low bar of expectations you had in the first place.

[darkrider]

They are blind followers. They can't accept the reality. Eat all the PR from Microsoft. It's scary.

[-Foxtrot]

It’s funny though because with the rumour going around people are like “you just gonna believe a guy who said something because he heard it as a passing comment in a conversation”

Yet here it’s taken as gospel without any real evidence and this comment was only made as a reaction to the rumour

So both side are basically “trust me bro”

[Father__Merrin]

It flopped because it was put on gamepass

[DOMination-]

Right, because the last decade is filled with multiple hack and slash new IP selling millions at retail.

Even something like Bayonetta 3 has struggled to get to 1 million. And that's a long established IP with a huge cult following and a massive install base.

This is a niche game in a dying genre. If it was released 10 years ago at retail only as a multiplat, do you honestly think it would have sold millions?

Has the game been a success? I don't know, and I guess that's up to MS to judge. But being on Gamepass has absolutely nothing to do with it either way.

[darkrider]

B3 was the worst game of the series, the switch couldn't handle what the studio wanted to do.

[purple101]

Do you think the problem with bayoneta is mostly (and I say mostly not all) switch owners are too young.

I know many adults will own one, but they are loosing potential customer segments by making it switch exelusive. But I know Nintendo helped publish or fund it so that's the situation. Can help thinking they are missing a few million sales for nothing.

Also people should try God of War. 2018 and the new one (which I havnt brought yet but plan to)

If you enjoy a good hack and slash, this is the ultimate, as you unlock the 'blades of Chaos' after a few hours and then you can choose to play with either the axe, or blades or a bit of both, taking you back to the 'old school' hack & slash of the ps2 days. - priceless Golden gameplay mechanics.

[HeliosHex]

I personally wasn't feeling this game. I guess many felt the same.

[CantThinkOfAUsername]

You don't need some no names making stuff up or Xbox's PR talk, all you need is looking at data, the numbers that Microsoft no longer likes talking about.

Hi-Fi Rush launched on January 25th this year. It has attracted 2 million players from Game Pass in 6 weeks. Yet, the game didn't debut anywhere on NPD group's (now called Circana) top 20 selling games for the month of January or February despite the raving reviews and strong word of mouth. Only 7% have finished the game on normal difficulty despite being short at around 12 hours.

Forspoken launched on January 24th, a day earlier than Hi-Fi Rush. Despite rocky pre-release marketing, a lot of backlash, mediocre reviews, and $70 price tag, the game debuted at number 7 on NPD's January report (and number 5 on Europe's PSN digital sales list). Currently it sits at number 15 on the top selling games in the US for 2023 list. The game didn't do great, of course, for AAA title, but it still sold copies.

On Steam, the picture is quite different. At launch, Hi-Fi Rush had a peak of 6,132 players, but word of mouth and 14.5K overwhelmingly positive reviews helped the game reach an estimated 350K copies sold. Keep in mind it has a $30 price tag.

Forspoken, on the other hand, had a peak of 12,579 players, and mostly negative reviews that has since been balanced to mixed (3510 positive reviews, currently). It has an estimated 160K copies sold, with a $70 and €80 launch price tags.

Take from this what you will.

[Chevalier]

Forspoken was in the top 10 NPD though. It launched at number 7.

https://venturebeat.com/gam...

A couple spots behind the newest Fire Emblem. In the biggest market for games. In the same month as Hi Fi Rush. Notice Hi Fi Rush at a cheap price doesn't even enter the top 20.

https://www.npd.com/news/en...

Also check the following month. Again Hi Fi Rush doesn't make the list again. Then check the top 10 Game sales for the YEAR. Number 10 for the YEAR = Forspoken.

Top 10 Selling Video Games (Retail and Digital), Year-to-Date 2023
Rank Rank Last Month Title Publisher
1 NEW Hogwarts Legacy Warner Bros. Interactive
2 1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) Activision Blizzard (Corp)
3 2 Dead Space (2023) Electronic Arts
4 3 Madden NFL 23 [EA Sports] Electronic Arts
5 4 FIFA 23 [EA Sports] Electronic Arts
6 6 Elden Ring Bandai Namco Entertainment
7 5 Fire Emblem Engage* Nintendo
8 8 God of War: Ragnarok Sony (Corp)
9 11 The Last of Us: Part I Sony (Corp)
10 7 Forspoken Square Enix Inc (Corp)

Being just behind GoW Ragnarok and TLOU Remake which keeps charting higher and higher as the TV show was out. So despite a lot of Xbox fans narrative that Forspoken flopped the sales data would suggest otherwise.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Hi-Fi rush was an excellent game. Surprised at all the hate. But then again it’s MSFT and it’s on this site.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I should also add the info Gamespot.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I should also add the info Gamespot and Forbes got their info from known leaker Jeff Grub. The info was not vetted at all.

The information flies in the face of Hi-Fi Rush performance on Steam at release, on Xbox, and the expansion of the team following the success of hi fi rush

[-Foxtrot]

It was a game game, I don’t think that’s what people are saying here. It’s just a reaction to that rumour going around about low sales and MS not being happy with the state of Xbox as a whole.

I thought Hi-FI rush was quickly made shovel crap when it shadow released, I didn’t realise it was in development for 3 years or so. I was wrong, it was a decent game but like I said I don’t think anyone is hating on the games quality with this article.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

How was it quickly made shovel ware? Who else is saying this?

[Chevalier]

It sold badly. Despite what people want to believe. That's FACT. It launched in January and didn't even make the top 20 games on the NPD which includes BOTH physical and Digital sales as well. Whereas Xbox Fandom says Forspoken flopped, but, Forspoken charted at number 7. February NPD again Hi Fi Rush doesn't make to top 10 either. But if you look at top 10 Games in NPD for the YEAR Forspoken is number 10. So as much as Xbox fans want to run these 2 narratives they're BOTH wrong. Feel free to see the links I have posted a couple comments above.

Top 10 Selling Video Games (Retail and Digital), Year-to-Date 2023
Rank Rank Last Month Title Publisher
1 NEW Hogwarts Legacy Warner Bros. Interactive
2 1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) Activision Blizzard (Corp)
3 2 Dead Space (2023) Electronic Arts
4 3 Madden NFL 23 [EA Sports] Electronic Arts
5 4 FIFA 23 [EA Sports] Electronic Arts
6 6 Elden Ring Bandai Namco Entertainment
7 5 Fire Emblem Engage* Nintendo
8 8 God of War: Ragnarok Sony (Corp)
9 11 The Last of Us: Part I Sony (Corp)
10 7 Forspoken Square Enix Inc (Corp)

[Phoenix76]

From Forbes - hifi rush didn't make MS much money.
https://www.google.com/amp/...

[jznrpg]

Breaks 10k copies sold it’s a hit now for MS

[Flewid638]

It was fun for 5 minutes but that was the extent of it....and I love hack & slash.

[derek]

Provide us the numbers, they don't lie or mislead.

[CrimsonWing69]

So who’s lying?

[filipakos]

how can a game thats 1$ be a success?I mean yeah its a nice game but its on game pass and has no physical copy

[hotnickles]

Yes now don’t milk it until it’s dry. Just keep the same winning development formula. Have 20 new IPs in a few years.

[AmUnRa]

When it was a succes for MS why was Greenburg not praising the game in Januari, februari ore March? Are you Xboxfans so daft? The game is not even in the top 20 this year?...This was a direct reaction on Grub his comment, aka damagecontrol. You guys cant see the truth even if it kicks you in the ass.....