Microsoft Buy Rare!!! News
Chris Leyton
00/12/0000
The worst kept secret in the history of videogames is on the verge of an official announcement…
The rumour-mill regarding Microsoft and Rare has once again spun into action. Speculation now suggests that Microsoft have already purchased Rare, and is waiting until Xā02 Europe before officially announcing the move.
Figures mooted about from last weeks ECTS event suggest that the deal is worth between £250 - 350 million, a figure that put off Activision when the US publisher first took a look at the UK developer, but one that the Seattle giant can easily afford with over $38 billion in the bank.
With a 49% stake in Rare, Nintendo are set to profit from any sale if a move does go ahead. Itās believed that the Japanese giant is less then impressed with the sales of Rare titles, itās been several years since Rare last had a big hit on their hands, seeing disappointing sales for the likes of Jet Force Gemini, Donkey Kong 64, Banjo Tooie, Perfect Dark and Conkers Bad Fur Day. However it can be argued that this isnāt any fault of the developer, rather the decision to release titles on a dying format.
If a deal does go through, it shouldnāt have any effect on the release of Starfox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet, however weāre already seeing Rareās other Cube titles canned; Donkey Kong Racing and possibly Kameo weāve heard. A source has claimed that theyāll still develop for the GameBoy Advance, as Microsoft has previously stated their intent to publish titles for Nintendoās handheld.
From an amusing Christmas Card things have certainly developed, itās beyond speculation that something is happening and it seems only time will tell. Perfect Dark Zero on Xbox, from the looks of things we certainly think soā¦