The departure of key personnel from Rare following the release of Viva Piñata (2006) was part of a larger, long-term talent exodus after Microsoft acquired the studio in 2002. While Viva Piñata received critical acclaim, its commercial performance was considered a disappointment, and this, coupled with a shifting company culture, led to significant departures. Here are the key details regarding the staff changes: Founders Left: On January 2, 2007, shortly after Viva Piñata failed to meet sales expectations, Rare founders Chris and Tim Stamper left the company to "pursue other opportunities". Key Staff Departures: Multiple reports and retrospectives indicate that a significant portion of senior staff from the Nintendo era left throughout the mid-to-late 2000s. Company Culture Shift: Many employees felt that the studio, which was known for its creative freedom under Nintendo, changed following the acquisition. Some team members felt that Microsoft undervalued Viva Piñata compared to its marketing efforts for other franchises like Gears of War. Layoffs and Restructuring: Rare experienced several restructurings, including significant layoffs in early 2009. Continued Changes: Even in 2025, the studio continues to see veteran departures, such as longtime director Gregg Mayles leaving after the reported cancellation of Everwild.
While some employees left for other opportunities, others were reportedly uncomfortable with the shift in focus towards new business models and away from traditional game development
@N00BiSH this was the game that wrecked Microsoft's trust in Rare. After Viva Pinata. Microsoft canned most of Rare's upcoming projects and began to question all their decisions.
Rare only starting waning after Microsoft purchased them. Before they were making hit after hit on the N64. Conker's Bad Fur Day, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, DK Country 64, Banjo Kazooie. Not a single bad game there. Rare's first few games on Xbox 360 (Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo) weren't particularly bad. Then Microsoft relagated Rare's studio to being a direct Wii competitor, only allowing them to make PG rated games. Viva Pinata, Kinect Sports etc. This was never Rare's forte. Rare were always about action and adult humour. Forcing them to make kiddie games and stifling their creativity caused a lot of devs to leave at that point. And many of the UK-based talent refused to relocate to the US and instead, left the company.
Nintendo failed to acquire a majority stake in Rareware before Microsoft did and ultimately paid the price of losing one of their most talented partners for decades.
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Re: Interview: "The Stampers Had Been Frustrated Working For Nintendo" - Xbox Co-Founder Ed Fries On The Deal That Shook The Industry
@N00BiSH
The departure of key personnel from Rare following the release of Viva Piñata (2006) was part of a larger, long-term talent exodus after Microsoft acquired the studio in 2002. While Viva Piñata received critical acclaim, its commercial performance was considered a disappointment, and this, coupled with a shifting company culture, led to significant departures.
Here are the key details regarding the staff changes:
Founders Left: On January 2, 2007, shortly after Viva Piñata failed to meet sales expectations, Rare founders Chris and Tim Stamper left the company to "pursue other opportunities".
Key Staff Departures: Multiple reports and retrospectives indicate that a significant portion of senior staff from the Nintendo era left throughout the mid-to-late 2000s.
Company Culture Shift: Many employees felt that the studio, which was known for its creative freedom under Nintendo, changed following the acquisition. Some team members felt that Microsoft undervalued Viva Piñata compared to its marketing efforts for other franchises like Gears of War.
Layoffs and Restructuring: Rare experienced several restructurings, including significant layoffs in early 2009.
Continued Changes: Even in 2025, the studio continues to see veteran departures, such as longtime director Gregg Mayles leaving after the reported cancellation of Everwild.
While some employees left for other opportunities, others were reportedly uncomfortable with the shift in focus towards new business models and away from traditional game development
Re: Interview: "The Stampers Had Been Frustrated Working For Nintendo" - Xbox Co-Founder Ed Fries On The Deal That Shook The Industry
@N00BiSH this was the game that wrecked Microsoft's trust in Rare. After Viva Pinata. Microsoft canned most of Rare's upcoming projects and began to question all their decisions.
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Re: Best Of 2021: The Real Story Behind Rare's Cancelled GoldenEye 007 Remaster
Rare only starting waning after Microsoft purchased them. Before they were making hit after hit on the N64. Conker's Bad Fur Day, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, DK Country 64, Banjo Kazooie. Not a single bad game there. Rare's first few games on Xbox 360 (Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo) weren't particularly bad. Then Microsoft relagated Rare's studio to being a direct Wii competitor, only allowing them to make PG rated games. Viva Pinata, Kinect Sports etc. This was never Rare's forte. Rare were always about action and adult humour. Forcing them to make kiddie games and stifling their creativity caused a lot of devs to leave at that point. And many of the UK-based talent refused to relocate to the US and instead, left the company.
Re: Best Of 2021: The Real Story Behind Rare's Cancelled GoldenEye 007 Remaster
Here's the real story:
Nintendo failed to acquire a majority stake in Rareware before Microsoft did and ultimately paid the price of losing one of their most talented partners for decades.
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