Players have discovered that Hi-Fi Rush may have an Easter egg hinting towards the existence of The Evil Within 3. Hi-Fi Rush is the latest new IP from developers of The Evil Within franchise, although some fans want Tango Gameworks to look back to the past for their future titles.
Released last month, Hi-Fi Rush is Tango Gameworks' second new IP in as many years, after last year's Ghostwire: Tokyo. Fans have embraced the title, with the speedrunning community in particular warming to Hi-Fi Rush due to its high-intensity gameplay that encourages fast play. Catering toward the speedrunning community is smart, as it can often extend the lifespan of a game by several years.
The Easter egg is extremely subtle. Near the end of the game, the player will take an elevator ride up to the final floor. On the panel in front of them, players will see an image that says "776 Kale Office." At the very bottom of that screen is a "News" banner that says "Sequel to popular survival horror game franchise announced." Although there are no guarantees this is directly referring to The Evil Within 3, it would be strange to tease fans like that, especially as they've waited six years for a sequel so far. Rumors have circulated about an announcement of The Evil Within 3 since 2019, but so far the newest Hi-Fi Rush tease is the closest fans have to real evidence of a sequel.
It is interesting that it points towards a sequel rather than a remaster or remake. With the Dead Space remake topping sales charts, bringing beloved horror franchises to modern hardware is popular right now. With the dedicated fan base of The Evil Within clearly wanting more, a remaster could be a hit. It wouldn't be impossible given that the games were published by Bethesda, who are renowned for re-releasing the published and developed games to other consoles. Speculation will continue until an official announcement is made, but with The Evil Within turning ten years old next year, anything is possible.
With Tango Gameworks' focus in recent years on new IP, it would be an interesting choice for the company to go back to the franchise that made it famous. The Evil Within began with the original in 2014, with the sequel released just three years later in 2017. The series had a devoted fan base, with many unsure why the company decided to change direction. Regardless, it looks like fans may finally get their wish if this tease is to be believed. Meanwhile, fans will continue to speculate what the company has upcoming, with one theory suggesting that Tango Gameworks would be perfect for a Blade Runner game.
Hi-Fi Rush is available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: GamesRadar