Rare Loses Its Most Influential Director After Everwild Cancellation

Longtime Rare veteran and influential game designer Gregg Mayles, who’s been with the company for 35 years, is departing following Everwild‘s cancellation this week. According to sources at VGC, he’s leaving Microsoft. Mayles was a founding member at Rare and is credited on Solar Jetman, released for NES and arcade in 1990. He directed Everwild since the team’s reshuffle in 2021. During his three-decade tenure with the British developer, he helmed games like Donkey Kong Country and its sequel, Banjo-Kazooie and Tooie, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, and Viva Piñata. At Microsoft, he worked on Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Kinect Sports, and served as creative director for Sea of Thieves. In total, Mayles worked on nearly 30 games at Rare. Another longtime Rare veteran, Louise O’Connor, who first made her mark with Conker’s Bad Fur Day for the Nintendo 64, is also bidding adieu to the company. This week, Microsoft announced Everwild‘s cancellation, the revamp of Perfect Dark, and the closure of The Initiative studio, along with layoffs affecting up to 9,000 employees across the company.

As we reflect on significant changes in the gaming industry with Gregg Mayles’ departure from Rare, it’s also worth noting the conclusion of another long-running saga. Jonathan Dubinski’s recent piece, “Production of The Boys Season 5 Complete,” published on July 3rd, marks the end of an era for fans of Prime Video’s hit series. Creator Eric Kripke shared that filming has wrapped up and post-production is underway, signaling a bittersweet transition as they gear up to reveal Homelander’s ultimate threat in the final season. For those invested in The Boys’ journey since its debut in 2019, be sure to check out Production of The Boys Season 5 Complete for all the latest updates. As the gaming community continues to grapple with the recent cancelation of Microsoft’s ambitious title, *Everwild*, it’s worth delving into another significant disappointment that shook Xbox’s strategy last year: the mysterious fate of *Perfect Dark*. Sophie Laurent’s detailed investigation into the alleged fake demo and the subsequent disillusionment among gamers is a must-read. Published on July 3, 2025, her piece sheds light on the deceptive marketing practices surrounding this highly anticipated game, which was meant to be Xbox’s flagship project. Readers interested in understanding the broader implications of such events for the gaming industry should definitely check out Sophie’s insightful analysis at 2024 Perfect Dark Demo Allegedly Fake, Tongues Loosening Since Game’s Cancellation…. Amidst the recent restructuring at Microsoft, Xbox continues to foster a dynamic future with over 40 projects currently in development, as detailed by Bruno Pferd on July 3rd. Despite the cancellations of titles like Everwild and Perfect Dark, there’s still much excitement around ongoing initiatives, including several highly anticipated games that were showcased earlier this year. To stay updated on the latest developments and to learn more about which projects are still moving forward, be sure to check out “Xbox Has Over 40 Projects in Development” Xbox Has Over 40 Projects in Development.