Rare Faces Restructuring News

Microsoft Game Studios has today confirmed that UK subsidiary, Rare, will undergo restructuring as part of a wider refocus to make the MGS organisation more efficient.  The Twycross studio, which released Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts in 2008 (not to mention produce the NXE's Avatars), will apparently shift to a triple-pronged strategy, which was outline by MGS to industry mag, Develop:

"1) Expand the Xbox 360 customer base by delivering experiences that allow our customers to interact with our content in new and innovative ways", "2) Better support efforts to extend the appeal of Xbox LIVE as a social entertainment network to drive greater adoption across the Xbox 360 customer base" and "3) Continue delivering AAA gaming experiences that excite both our current and future customers".

Whilst the move does suggest that some job cuts will be made, a second statement from within Rare itself does shed light on what the studio is currently working on – namely four (yes, four) projects, all of which are in the early stages of development.  Mark Betteridge, Rare's studio manager explained that:

“As the entire industry struggles to address the increasing scale and cost of development, we too have felt a need to restructure our current approach so we can speed development and better manage the scale required to create high quality games. With four projects recently underway, now is the right time to make this change.

"Throughout its history, Rare has demonstrated a willingness to embrace new approaches and commitment to delivering game-changing experiences to our customers. This announcement is no different and builds on that tradition as we work with MGS to make interactive entertainment as culturally relevant in people’s lives as books, movies and television are today.”

It's currently unclear which of the projects could face the axe, and the knock-on effect on Rare's staff.  TVG would like to wish the team at Twycross the very best during what is no doubt a difficult time for the studio.