Gregg Mayles, the longtime director at Rare, is leaving his position after over 35 years with the company.
First reported by VGC, Mayles’ departure comes as Xbox has canceled Rare’s in-development action-adventure game Everwild and let go an unknown number of staff.
Mayleshad been with the company since the late 1980s, and served as director on games such Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country. He was also the creative director on Sea of Thieves.
MORE XBOX LAYOFFS: Turn 10 Studios Loses Nearly Half Of Its Staff
In addition to Mayles, VGC reports that executive producer Louise O’Connor is also leaving the studio.
Rare isn’t the only studio hit by layoffs and game cancellations at Xbox. The Initiative has been shut down with its game, Perfect Dark, being cancelled. Also cancelled was a new MMORPG from ZeniMax Online Studios where its president Matt Firor announced his departure.
Regarding the layoffs, Xbox’s Matt Booty says that the company’s “overall portfolio strategy” remains the same. Booty said, in a memo to Xbox staff, that the goal at Xbox is to “build games that excite our players, continue to grow our biggest franchises, and create new stories, worlds, and characters.”
Microsoft has not responded to any request for comment on the layoffs, game cancellations, or studio closures. Should any response be received, it will be added to this story and others.
To talk about Gregg Mayles’ exit from Rare, the layoffs, and what’s been happening across Xbox and the games industry, join the discussion at the official Insider Gaming forums.
For more Insider Gaming, read about how many people Microsoft is expected to let go in this latest wave of layoffs and what Xbox’s Phil Spencer had to say to his staff about the job cuts. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Insider Gaming newsletter.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
More from Mike Straw
Why are they still open? Close them Turn 10, Halo, Arkane, and Undead Labs. Tango and Roundhouse should have survived!