Rare, the acclaimed developer primarily known for its popular game Sea of Thieves, has publicly addressed the recent extensive layoffs at Microsoft. These cutbacks notably led to the discontinuation of Everwild, a project that had been in development for a considerable period at the studio.
During a July developer update video for Sea of Thieves, Rare production director Drew Stevens commenced the broadcast by acknowledging the significant news. “It would be strange to jump straight into our usual updates without acknowledging the news that we`ve ended development on Everwild here at Rare,” Stevens stated, as reported by GamesRadar.
Everwild was initially unveiled in November 2019, followed by a trailer in 2020. However, updates regarding its progress have been almost non-existent since then. Reports suggest that Rare struggled to establish a clear direction for the game, ultimately resulting in its cancellation.
Stevens clarified that the decision to cancel Everwild did not “directly impact” the ongoing development of Sea of Thieves, which is proceeding as planned. He emphasized the studio`s current focus: “Our focus as a team and a studio is on supporting our friends and colleagues whose roles are at risk.”
The director further expressed the broader sentiment within the studio, noting, “It`s impossible for something like this not to ripple through the studio and affect all of us in some way or another, so please bear with us.”
Stevens concluded his message by extending gratitude: “I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who`s reached out to check in on us and share their kind words of support. Genuinely, thank you, it really means a lot.”
The layoffs at Xbox were not limited to Everwild`s cancellation. Microsoft also halted development on a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game from The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios, as well as a new installment in the Perfect Dark series. Additionally, numerous developers across Microsoft`s network of studios were affected by these job cuts.
These significant reductions in workforce are part of a broader downsizing initiative by Microsoft, which has impacted over 9,000 individuals. This comes at a time when Microsoft is simultaneously investing billions into artificial intelligence projects. Reportedly, some developers laid off from King, the Microsoft-owned studio behind Candy Crush, have indicated that they expect to be replaced by the very AI systems they helped create.
Cancelled Xbox Games and Studio Closures Amidst Microsoft`s Recent Layoffs
