Krafton CEO Admits Hi-Fi Rush 2 May Not Be Profitable

In a recent interview, Krafton CEO Changhan Kim shared some surprising thoughts on the upcoming development of Hi-Fi Rush 2. While the original Hi-Fi Rush gained a dedicated fanbase, Kim openly admitted that Krafton, which acquired Tango Gameworks after Microsoft’s decision to shut down several studios, doesn’t expect the sequel to make much money. Despite this, Krafton remains committed to the project for creative reasons, not financial ones.

“We don’t think Hi-Fi Rush 2 is going to make us money,” Kim said in an interview with Game Developer. “But it’s part of our attempt. We have to keep trying in the spirit of challenge-taking.”

Expanding the Portfolio and Embracing Risk

Krafton’s decision to acquire Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP wasn’t driven by the potential for high profits. Instead, the publisher wanted to preserve the studio’s creative legacy and expand its portfolio of innovative projects. Kim emphasized the importance of maintaining a lineup of creative, unique titles, even if they aren’t guaranteed financial successes.

“Video games are really a hit-or-miss industry,” Kim continued. “Having more project lineups is actually a way to mitigate risk.”

Kim’s comments highlight Krafton’s approach of taking calculated risks with new IPs, focusing on creativity rather than immediate commercial success. The CEO concluded by acknowledging the challenge of simply breaking even, but expressed hope that this risk-taking approach could eventually lead to a breakout hit.