Surprise Xbox hit Hi-Fi Rush breaks into Steam’s top 10 chart
Tango Gameworks' vibrant surprise enjoys launch success on Steam.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
A surprise announcement during theDeveloper_Direct Xbox eventhosted by Microsoft and Bethesda Software revealed Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythmic action game with a vibrant art style made for Xbox and PC. Althoughrumblings of the game’s existencewere happening before the event, an immediate release shocked viewers as the title went up for sale as soon as the show ended.
Shadow-dropping an all-new IP with no marketing had developers Tango Gameworks playing a significantly risky move, banking on the raw appeal of Hi-Fi Rush via a launch trailer and accompanying gameplay information. Its immediate availability onXbox Game Passmeans existing subscribers could play the game at no extra charge, but that hasn’t stopped the title from succeeding in full-price digital unit sales.
PC gaming platform Steam shows Hi-Fi Rush breaking into the top 10 charts of best-selling games within 24 hours of its announcement. It sits alongside popular titles to include overall revenue microtransactions in free-to-play games and pre-order sales from the highly anticipatedHogwarts Legacy. Reviews for the PC version currently accumulate a ‘very positive’ rank on Steam, with buyers expressing their delight with the game.
Fans of rhythm-focused games will be drawn towards Hi-Fi Rush, as it rewards hitting inputs on the beat of its soundtrack, similar to the first-person musical shooter Metal: Hellsinger, which impressed our staff gaming writer Zachary Boddy in theirPC version review. It’s certainly a departure for Tango Gameworks, who were previously known for their horror-focused titles, including Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within.
If you’re subscribed to Xbox orPC Game Pass, check out Hi-Fi Rush via download orXbox Cloud Gamingfor a taste of its high-octane action with protagonist Chai and their journey through a cel-shaded world of bionic characters. You can also pick up the standard or deluxe editions to keep forever via Steam, Epic Games, or the official Microsoft Store.
Hi-Fi Rush
This new rhythm-based action brawler from Tango Gameworks encourages players to feel the beat as they smash their way through hordes of mechanized enemies. The entire game is a love letter to the rock genre, and it’s available to play right now on Xbox and PC.
See at:Microsoft|Microsoft (Deluxe)|Epic (Standard)|Epic (Deluxe)|Steam|Steam (Deluxe)
Windows Central’s Take
Tango Gameworks barely had to make an effort to convince me about Hi-Fi Rush since I’m a lifelong fan of the cel-shaded classic Jet Set Radio games, and Sunset Overdrive is one of the best games ever to hit Xbox. For me, this is a no-brainer that seems to combine the energy of both.
Even though I have an active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate, this is the kind of game I want to celebrate, so I’ll purchase it on Steam. It looks like it should run fine on Steam Deck, too, so I have absolutely no complaints about the success of this surprise launch. I wholeheartedly support this risky shadow drop and its apparent payoff.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Ben is a Senior Editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to technology hardware and software. He regularly goes hands-on with the latest Windows laptops, components inside custom gaming desktops, and any accessory compatible with PC and Xbox. His lifelong obsession with dismantling gadgets to see how they work led him to pursue a career in tech-centric journalism after a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support.
