Rare Veteran Gregg Mayles Departs After 35 Years, Following Everwild’s Cancellation

Gregg Mayles, one of Rare’s most celebrated designers and creative leaders, has officially left the studio after more than 35 years.

His departure comes in the wake of Everwild’s cancellation earlier this summer, a project he had been directing since 2021.

Gregg Mayles

Mayles confirmed the news himself on social media, marking his final day at Rare with a short farewell message in poetic style.

“Today was my last day at RareLtd. Thanks to everyone who played and enjoyed any of the games I helped create while I was there. Also thanks to all the people that worked on the games alongside me. It seemed fitting that I should say farewell with one final rhyme!,” he wrote.

According to VGC, Mayles’ exit had been rumored since July, when Microsoft announced sweeping layoffs across Xbox Game Studios that affected around 9,000 employees. Among the casualties was Everwild, Rare’s ambitious new IP that had been in development for several years but struggled with multiple reboots and shifting creative direction.

A Legacy of Classics

Mayles joined Rare in the late 1980s and quickly became one of its most influential designers. His first credited project was Solar Jetman in 1990, but it was the 1994 release of Donkey Kong Country that cemented his reputation.

He went on to direct Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, two of the Nintendo 64’s most beloved platformers, before leading projects like Grabbed by the Ghoulies and Viva Piñata.

Under Microsoft’s ownership, he continued to shape Rare’s identity with titles like Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Kinect Sports. Most recently, he served as creative director for the studio’s live-service hit Sea of Thieves.