Sure, here it is:
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So, here’s something: Rare, that good old British game maker, hit the big four-zero on August 4, 1985. Just imagine, it sprouted from this 1982 gig called Ultimate Play the Game. Rare and Nintendo, Xbox – they brewed up classics like Donkey Kong Country and GoldenEye 007. I mean, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, Sea of Thieves… Should I keep going?
Fast forward to now, they cooked up this limited-edition Xbox controller with 8BitDo. Patterns and silhouettes all over it, a real treat for the fans. But, oh boy, talk about timing—Xbox and Rare are in some deep water lately.
Okay, rewind a bit. Xbox and Rare, yeah… They’ve stirred some drama. Microsoft’s been on a layoff spree since 2023—out went 10,000 workers! Next few years, more cuts. We’re talking thousands here. Xbox, stable? Not really. Hardware sales weren’t exactly shooting through the roof compared to those Nintendo and PlayStation guys.
Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming’s big cheese, he says they’re cutting jobs to amp up agility. Whatever that means. But seriously, games got canned. That new Perfect Dark remake? See ya. And Rare’s baby, Everwild? Poof, gone.
Ah, the tale of Everwild. Rare’s been all about Sea of Thieves since, like, 2020, but they dropped news on Everwild back in 2019. Sounded magical, with new playstyles. Started its life in 2014, but got a shake-up when the creative director bailed in 2021. Rumors flew about its 2024 release. But now? Who can say?
And what about Rare’s past glory? They made Perfect Dark and a sequel for Xbox 360. But now, with projects shelved, and developers like Gregg Mayles—the dude behind gems like Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie—leaving, what’s next?
Everwild had glimmers of hope in 2024; Spencer even had a go at it. Some Xbox top dog said the cancelations were about shifting priorities, “aligning resources” they call it. Ugh, corporate talk. Anyway, not sure if they’re cooking anything outside Sea of Thieves these days.
Gregg Mayles leaving too? That’s just heavy. He’s been a Rare staple since ’89! Crafted games that hit the heart. Anniversaries are supposed to be a party, right? But Rare’s 40th, mixed with all this, feels like… I dunno, bittersweet at best.
Oh, last tidbit—Rare got a plaque in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Kind of neat, a little nod to their roots. Feels like a time capsule or something.
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There we go. Wonder where Rare goes from here? 🤷♂️
