Evil Within looks truly dead as revival hopes dashed after studio closure
Gee, thanks Microsoft.
01st Oct 2024 16:54
Images via Tango Gameworks
Evil Within looks truly dead as revival hopes dashed after studio closure
Gee, thanks Microsoft.
01st Oct 2024 16:54
Images via Tango Gameworks
As we approach the 10th anniversary of The Evil Within, just think that in some alternate reality, we could be sitting down to play a new-gen remake. Horror games are a dime a dozen, but feeling like a modernised mix between Resident Evil and Silent Hill, few can get under your skin quite like The Evil Within.
Following the OG in 2014, Tango Gameworks delivered The Evil Within 2 in 2017, and even though its sales numbers were reportedly scary in a negative sense, there's still a loyal group of fans holding a candle for The Evil Within 3. Well, that was until Microsoft announced the sad shuttering of Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and more.
The Evil Within anniversary content has seemingly been shelved
Tango was working on Hi-Fi Rush 2 & The Evil Within Anniversary content before being shut down by Xbox
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There was an unlikely saviour for Tango Gameworks in the form of Krafton, with the PUBG overlord already outlining its grand plans for the Hi-Fi Rush series. Unfortunately, Krafton Head of Corporate Development Maria Park has told GamesIndustry.biz about some of the casualties along the way.
Suggesting that not everything is coming over to Krafton, Park explained, "It would've been great to get all the IPs but the team was working on Hi-Fi Rush 2 and the others were working on anniversary content for The Evil Within." The mention of The Evil Within was enough to pique our interest, let alone anniversary content.
Sadly, Park continued, "Knowing Microsoft's direction with the IP sale, we didn't want to push too far with this acquisition, so we primarily had Hi-Fi Rush under discussion because it would complicate the process and elongate the entire negotiation process."
When pushed on whether Ghostwire Tokyo and The Evil Within are staying with Microsoft, Park confirmed, "Yes." The news was shared on the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit, where horror hounds wept that not only has the proposed anniversary content been shelved, but The Evil Within now lies in limbo while under Microsoft's stewardship.
At the time of this writing, The Evil Within's 10th anniversary is just days away, and without Tango to steer the ship or Microsoft boasting a specific horror-centric studio, we're right to fear the worst. When one fan cried, "Evil Within anniversary content, this actually hurts," another added, "Xbox, you took everything from me."
A third joked, "I would do terrible, awful things for The Evil Within: Anniversary Edition," while someone else concluded, "If people actually bought the EW2, we'd get a 3. Actions speak louder than words." Of course, we could be wrong and Microsoft could have big plans for The Evil Within. It's unlikely, but don't take our hope.
Shinji Mikami left Tango in 2023, and while some hope he will return to the IP, the fact he's trying to distance himself from survival horror feels like the final nail in the coffin. Although we don't know whether The Evil Within would be faring better if more people had bought the sequel, it's still a grim realisation that this could be the end of the road for this horror legend.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
