All articles tagged with #rare
The UK Best Places to Work Awards 2026 recognized 25 video game companies for employee support, with Rare, Snap Finger Click, and Dink securing multiple special honors at the Royal Institution in London.
As the Nintendo 64 marks its 30th anniversary, attention has turned to the console's significant gaps in modern re-releases. While the N64 pioneered 3D gaming, many beloved titles remain legally unplayable without original hardware due to licensing disputes and technical limitations. Key omissions include 'Diddy Kong Racing,' which is blocked by Microsoft's ownership of developer Rare, and 'Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness,' which Konami has not remastered despite reviving other series entries. The console's reliance on cartridges, which offered far less storage than PlayStation discs, also contributed to a smaller library and the departure of major third-party developers like Square and Capcom.
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios is reshaping its portfolio: Rare and the Halo IP will transfer to Activision, Ninja Theory is slated for closure after failed sale attempts, and about 268 roles have been cut across Halo Studios and other teams as part of a broader corporate reset, with Undead Labs moving to a new publisher to release State of Decay 3 and other studio realignments continuing.
Grant Kirkhope says a Banjo-Threeie is slightly more plausible now that Rare's leadership has shifted (Craig Duncan stepping down), but he notes three outside studios have pitched Microsoft or Rare and none have landed; Rare is busy, so revival would likely hinge on a collaboration, with Toys for Bob (Spyro A Realm Beyond) having shown interest, though there is no official confirmation yet.
Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope says about three external studios pitched the series’ return to Microsoft or Rare, but none succeeded. Rare reportedly stays busy and has historically said no to ideas; with Craig Duncan gone and new leaders at the helm, discussions might be more open, but no new Banjo-Kazooie game is currently in development.
An ultra-rare stainless-steel 1930s Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 448, passed down through generations and hidden in a Cornish family’s jewelry box, sold for £59,000 (about $80,000) at Hansons Auctioneers in Penzance, far above its £5,000 estimate. Bidders from around the world competed, and the watch is set to begin a new life in Hong Kong.
Donkey Kong 64 arrives on Switch Online's N64 library with five playable Kongs and a grand, nostalgia-soaked adventure that treasures scale, visuals, and a rich soundtrack, plus an arcade-era multiplayer mode, but its massive scope is also its flaw: backtracking, colour-coded gating that forces you to replay sections with different Kongs, and an occasionally repetitive design that can sap the pace over 30-plus hours needed to finish (and even longer for 101% completion). PAL/NTSC quirks and camera issues further color the experience, making it impressive yet imperfect and best for patient fans of the era.
Nintendo has announced that Donkey Kong 64 will join the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack's Nintendo Classics lineup on June 4, 2026, marking the first N64 release of the year. The Rare-made 1999 collectathon—featuring multiple playable characters and a quest to rescue DK's friends—joins the library alongside other retro favorites, despite its era's camera and backtracking quirks being noted by players.
Nearly a dozen Sea of Thieves Partners are stepping down after serious sexual misconduct allegations surrounding a creator known as Bruno, highlighted in the “Bruno Files.” New claims allege Bruno solicited explicit content from someone believed to be underage, prompting bans and account removals; Rare’s moderation is under scrutiny as community members call for a public response while investigations continue and several prominent partners leave the program.
Ex-Rare developers say they never heard of Nintendo or Nintendo of Japan asking Rare to turn Panel de Pon into a Killer Instinct-themed game for a Western release, and one magazine blurb cited as evidence isn’t corroborated by the developers. The claim appears unsubstantiated, with key figures like Chris Seavor and Mark Betteridge denying involvement or even knowledge of the plan.
Greg Mayles, the director of Banjo-Kazooie and a long-time developer at Rare, has left the studio after 36 years, amid the cancellation of the game Everwild and recent layoffs at Microsoft. His departure marks a significant change for Rare, which has struggled to replicate its N64 success, with Sea of Thieves being its latest hit. The studio's future projects remain uncertain following the exit of key staff.
Screenshots of Rare's cancelled game Everwild, showing UI and gameplay elements, have emerged via an artist's portfolio, providing the first glimpse of the game's visuals and potential mechanics before its cancellation earlier this year following layoffs at Microsoft.
Leaked screenshots reveal gameplay and UI elements of Everwild, a game canceled by Microsoft and Rare after over five years of development, providing a rare glimpse into the project that was intended to be a survival game with unique visual design, before its cancellation earlier this year.
A collection of development screenshots and UI details for Rare's canceled game Everwild has surfaced, revealing game features like inventory tabs and in-game elements, despite the game's long troubled development and eventual cancellation. The images suggest a rich game world with collectible creatures and plant systems, and hint at potential future projects for Rare, including revivals of classic franchises.
A Seattle man bought a rare orange Halo edition Xbox for $50 at a garage sale, unaware of its rarity. It was one of only three ever made and never sold publicly. He sold it for $15,000 to a private collector, highlighting the value of rare gaming consoles.