Gregg Mayles and Louise O’Connor Depart Rare: What It Means for the Studio’s Future

Summary:

Gregg Mayles—creative force behind Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves—has stepped away from Rare after more than three decades. His departure arrives on the heels of Everwild’s cancellation and broad Microsoft layoffs that also claimed veteran producer Louise O’Connor. We explore their remarkable careers, the circumstances leading to their exit, and the potential paths forward for both the individuals and the studio they helped define. Along the way, we consider fan reactions, the creative vacuum left behind, and the challenges Rare faces as it seeks to hold on to its distinct identity in an ever-shifting games industry.

Farewell to a Legend: Gregg Mayles Says Goodbye to Rare

The gaming world rarely witnesses a creative partnership as enduring as the one between Gregg Mayles and Rare. For 35 years, Mayles’ fingerprints have graced some of the most beloved titles ever to land on Nintendo and Xbox consoles. News of his departure landed like a thunderclap in early July 2025, just days after Microsoft confirmed sweeping cuts across its gaming division. Players who grew up leaping through the lush jungles of Donkey Kong Country or soaring over Spiral Mountain in Banjo-Kazooie instantly recognized how monumental this exit is. Losing a cornerstone talent is tough for any studio; for Rare—a company that built much of its brand around Mayles’ quirky humor and design instincts—it feels deeply personal. What does it mean when the heart of a studio chooses to move on? Fans are asking exactly that, and industry watchers are racing to decode the ripple effects.

A Storied Career Spanning Three Decades

Rewind to the late 1980s: a young Gregg Mayles joins the Stamper brothers’ studio in the quiet English countryside. He arrives at a time when 8-bit pixels rule the living room and the term “3D platformer” hasn’t yet entered gaming vernacular. Fast-forward a few short years and Mayles, then lead designer, helps craft Donkey Kong Country—a cartridge that would redefine what “next-gen visuals” meant on the humble Super Nintendo. That success set the tone for a career driven by experimentation. Over the next 30 plus years, Mayles steered projects that hopped across genres and hardware generations, from whimsical platforming in Banjo-Kazooie to party-ready sports simulations on Kinect. His secret? An ability to spot the fun at the center of any mechanic and build worlds that invite players to explore. Few designers boast a résumé so varied yet unmistakably stamped with their personality.

The Spark of Donkey Kong Country: Reinventing a Franchise

Imagine being tasked with resurrecting a dormant Nintendo mascot while competing with Sega’s lightning-fast Sonic. Mayles and his team bet on pre-rendered 3D sprites, pushing the SNES far beyond what anyone thought possible in 1994. The gamble paid off: Donkey Kong Country shipped over eight million copies, dazzling players with fluid animation and chunky, tactile level design. Behind the scenes, Mayles cultivated a tight-knit group that iterated obsessively on enemy placement, rhythmic platforming, and that unforgettable David Wise soundtrack. The result wasn’t merely a technical showpiece—it reignited Nintendo’s faith in Rare and set the stage for a golden era of collaboration between the two companies. The lessons Mayles gleaned about risk-taking and player delight would echo throughout his later work.

From Banjo-Kazooie to Viva Piñata: Creative High Points

Banjo-Kazooie arrived in 1998, precisely when the Nintendo 64 needed a fresh mascot platformer. The title revealed Mayles’ flair for character-driven humor, layered collectibles, and sprawling worlds brimming with secrets. Its sequel, Banjo-Tooie, doubled down on interconnected levels that felt alive and interconnected long before “open world” became a buzzword. In 2006, Viva Piñata proved he could pivot from platforming to god-game-lite gardening, blending child-friendly aesthetics with deep mechanics that earned unexpected cult status. Each project demonstrated Mayles’ refusal to settle for the obvious. If a mechanic could be twisted into something playful and unexpected, he found a way. That spirit of surprise sustained Rare’s reputation even as gaming trends shifted around them.

Sea of Thieves and the Shift to Live Service

When Rare transitioned into a Microsoft studio, Mayles faced a new challenge: designing a game that could evolve in real time. Sea of Thieves launched in 2018 with an ocean of promise and a handful of content. Some critics questioned the sparse early experience, yet Mayles’ vision of community-driven piracy proved resilient. Regular content seasons, emergent storytelling, and goofy player antics transformed the game into a service juggernaut attracting twenty-plus million players. By embracing livestreaming culture and meme-worthy moments, Mayles steered Rare into the live-service era without abandoning its trademark whimsy. But live-service development also meant constant updates, complex pipelines, and leadership fatigue—the kind that can incubate burnout even in the most passionate creators.

Everwild’s Demise and the Breaking Point

On July 2, 2025, Microsoft axed Everwild, Rare’s ambitious new IP rumored to blend magic, nature, and cooperative gameplay. The cancellation signaled more than a lost project; it represented a fork in the road for the studio’s creative soul. Mayles had stepped in to direct Everwild during a 2021 reboot, guiding the team through multiple prototypes. Insiders describe a dazzling but elusive concept that never solidified into a shippable loop. As costs ballooned and corporate pressures mounted, Microsoft chose to cut its losses. For Mayles, the decision appears to have been a final straw. When a designer driven by curiosity finds his latest experiment shelved, sticking around can feel like rowing against the tide.

What Went Wrong Behind the Scenes

Developers whisper about shifting creative pillars, an evolving engine, and an identity crisis as Rare juggled stylized art with systemic gameplay. One week Everwild played like a serene survival adventure; another week it leaned toward magical Monster Hunter. Morale seesawed with each design pivot, and leadership had to weigh the value of experimentation against the risk of further delays. In the end, the math simply didn’t add up for the publisher. The fallout left dozens of staff reassigned or jobless and two of Rare’s longest-serving veterans—Mayles and executive producer Louise O’Connor—heading for the door.

Louise O’Connor’s Parallel Journey and Departure

Louise O’Connor joined Rare as an animator on Conker’s Bad Fur Day, quickly proving her knack for expressive characters and tongue-in-cheek comedy. Over two decades, she graduated to producer, then executive producer, shepherding franchise updates and forging studio culture initiatives that championed inclusivity. Her partnership with Mayles on Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves cultivated a balanced dynamic: Mayles the design visionary, O’Connor the organizational glue. When Everwild faltered, O’Connor reportedly fought for team stability, but Microsoft’s axe cut deep. Her exit, coinciding with Mayles’, underscores the emotional toll layoffs can have—and raises alarms about the institutional memory Rare just lost.

Microsoft’s Restructuring and Its Ripple Effects

Microsoft’s July 2025 layoffs affected multiple Xbox Game Studios, trimming budgets after expensive acquisitions and Game Pass expansion. Rare escaped closure, yet losing a marquee project and two veteran leaders leaves it vulnerable. Talented developers often follow beloved mentors out the door, and recruitment becomes tougher when headlines shout “cancellation.” Investors might view the cuts as prudent, but fans see icons walking away from a childhood staple. The situation illustrates a broader industry quandary: balancing corporate cost control with the creative freedom necessary to birth memorable IP. When ledger lines dictate art, studios risk stifling the very spark that built their reputations.

The Road Ahead: Can Rare Retain Its Magic?

Rare now faces an identity crossroads. Sea of Thieves remains profitable, but sustaining an eight-year-old service game cannot be the studio’s sole calling card. Younger directors must step up, perhaps energized by the chance to define a fresh era. The challenge is twofold: honor the playful DNA honed under Mayles while embracing new voices unafraid to experiment. Some industry observers suggest that Rare could pivot to smaller, more focused projects—“double-A” games that mitigate financial risk without sacrificing creativity. Others predict collaboration with partner teams inside Xbox to inject cross-studio expertise. Whatever path Rare chooses, fans will judge success less by profit margins and more by whether the next project sparks the same childlike grin that Banjo once did.

What’s Next for Mayles and O’Connor

Speculation swirls like cannon-smoke on the Sea of Thieves horizon. Will Gregg Mayles found an indie studio, free to tinker without corporate oversight? Could Nintendo entice him for a nostalgic reunion? Might he take a creative-director role at another AAA outfit hungry for seasoned talent? Observers note that Mayles has never chased the spotlight; he may relish a quieter mentorship position or even temporary sabbatical. Louise O’Connor, renowned for people-focused leadership, could land at a studio looking to reboot its production pipelines or spearhead narrative animation. Wherever they sail next, their résumés guarantee open doors—and fans will be watching social media like hawks, ready to cheer their next chapters.

Conclusion

Gregg Mayles and Louise O’Connor departing Rare marks the end of a remarkable era. Their creative fingerprints shaped platformers, party games, and shared-world adventures that defined generations of players. Yet change is inevitable in an industry where risk and reward walk hand in hand. Rare must rediscover its spark amid corporate reshuffles, while Mayles and O’Connor carry decades of hard-earned wisdom into new waters. If history proves anything, it’s that great ideas find a way to surface—sometimes from unexpected places. Wherever the winds push these veterans, their legacy reminds us why play matters: it connects us, challenges us, and, at its best, makes us smile.

FAQs

Why did Gregg Mayles leave Rare?
- Reports suggest his departure followed Everwild’s cancellation and broader Microsoft layoffs. Creative fatigue and shifting studio priorities likely influenced his decision.
How long was Gregg Mayles at Rare?
- He spent more than 35 years at the studio, joining in the late 1980s and working on nearly 30 games.
Who is Louise O’Connor?
- A veteran producer whose first project was Conker’s Bad Fur Day, O’Connor rose to executive producer and was integral to Viva Piñata and Sea of Thieves.
Is Sea of Thieves affected by their departure?
- Rare states that ongoing support continues, but leadership changes could influence future content pacing and creative direction.
Will Banjo-Kazooie return without Mayles?
- Rare retains the IP, and rumors of a revival surface periodically, but no official plans have been announced.