Shinji Mikami to leave Tango Gameworks [Update]

Todd Vaughn, senior vice president of Bethesda Softworks, revealed in a company-wide email that was confirmed by TrueAchievements that Tango Gameworks founder Shinji Mikami will be leaving the studio in the "coming months."

Vaughn wrote in the email, "I am writing today to let you know that studio chief Shinji Mikami has decided to leave Tango Gameworks in the near future. "Mikami-san has worked on The Evil Within franchise, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and of course, Hi-Fi RUSH for 12 years, serving as a creative leader and encouraging mentor to young developers at Tango."

Mikami, who spent 16 years at Capcom and is best known for developing the Resident Evil franchise, launched Tango Gameworks in March 2010. In October of the same year, Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, bought the company.

The horror game The Evil Within was directed by Mikami at Tango Gameworks, and he also acted as executive producer on The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the recently released Hi-Fi RUSH.

In the email, Vaugn added that Hi-Fi RUSH had "created considerable positive momentum for the business and Tango" and was "one of the most successful releases for Bethesda and Xbox in recent years."

Update: The following is Bethesda Softworks' official statement regarding Mikami's departure:

We can confirm that Shinji Mikami has decided to leave Tango Gameworks in the coming months. We thank him for his work as a creative leader and supportive mentor to young developers on The Evil Within franchise, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and, of course, Hi-Fi RUSH.

We wish Mikami-san well in the future and are excited by what lies ahead for the talented developers at Tango.

—Bethesda