Louise O’Connor Joins Xbox Game Studios as Chief of Staff After Everwild Cancellation
- Sagar Mankar
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Louise O’Connor, a long-time Rare executive producer, has officially stepped into a new role as Chief of Staff at Xbox Game Studios.
O’Connor’s appointment follows the recent cancellation of Everwild, Rare’s ambitious fantasy adventure project that had been in development for nearly a decade. She had been closely tied to the title since its earliest stages, serving as executive producer and guiding the team through its lengthy production cycle. With the project now shelved, Xbox has reassigned her talents to support a broader range of internal studios.
O’Connor’s career at Rare spans an impressive 25 years. She first joined during the Nintendo 64 era, working on the cult-classic Conker’s Bad Fur Day in 2001. Over the years, she held senior creative roles, including head of animation and head of incubation, becoming one of Rare’s most recognizable leaders. According to VGC, this transition ensures she continues to play a key role within Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem rather than departing after Everwild’s closure.
Her move also comes during a period of major leadership changes. Craig Duncan, who led Rare for over a decade, left the studio last year after being promoted to head of Xbox Game Studios, succeeding Alan Hartman following his retirement. Now, O’Connor will work under Duncan’s leadership once again, marking a continuation of their long professional partnership.
The cancellation of Everwild was part of sweeping cuts at Microsoft, with around 9,000 employees affected company-wide, equating to roughly 4% of its workforce. This was the fourth round of layoffs in the gaming division within 18 months, reflecting ongoing restructuring efforts at Xbox.
Rare itself has faced additional departures beyond O’Connor’s reassignment. Gregg Mayles, one of the studio’s longest-serving and most influential designers, also exited after more than 35 years, leaving behind a legacy that includes Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and Viva Piñata.