Everwild’s cancellation has me worried for one of my favorite dev teams and Xbox itself — It needs creative new games to thrive and refresh its identity

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Approximately 9,000 employees at Microsoft lost their jobs today, marking the conclusion of the company’s financial year. Among these changes, Xbox announced the closure of several video game development initiatives, which includes the cancellation of Everwild, a project being worked on by Rare Studios.

Over the years, Rare has played an integral role in shaping my personal gaming journey, dating back to my childhood where it introduced me to captivating titles such as Donkey Kong Country, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Banjo-Kazooie, and many more that left a lasting impact.

Following the acquisition by Microsoft in 2002, Rare continued to produce various games, with the 2018 launch of Sea of Thieves marking their most successful and enduring release.

Yet, since then, Rare has only launched a single additional game, leaving me growing concerned about their future prospects as Sea of Thieves begins to show its age.

With Everwild being cancelled, I’m more worried than ever, not just for Rare but for Xbox itself.

Xbox Game Studios needs creative new games to flourish — otherwise it’s just a game subscription

Back in 2019, Everwild’s announcement filled me with immense enthusiasm, as it distinctly differed from the usual lineup of Xbox Game Studios’ releases, much like how Rare games tend to stand out.

In this reimagined narrative, the focus of the game revolves around an enchanting, vibrant realm, where gamers are tasked with preserving the harmony of nature. Previews hint at the presence of extraordinary beings and landscapes, suggesting a colossal universe teeming with discovery and exploration.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the game, and that had me excited.

For quite some time, numerous big game titles have seemed like copies of each other, and I had been looking forward to Rare’s distinctive style injecting some vitality into an otherwise dull gaming environment. However, the cancellation of Everwild has me questioning if Rare, and by extension Microsoft (Xbox), might be facing difficulties.

To clarify, let me make it clear that I’ve enjoyed numerous titles from Xbox Game Studios, such as Avowed, South of Midnight, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, and I can’t wait for more upcoming Xbox games. However, for a game publisher to stay vibrant and exciting, they need a variety of genres and gaming experiences on their roster.

For several years now, game development has faced numerous challenges almost everywhere, and particularly for Xbox. The stack of studio shutdowns and abandoned projects continues to grow, leading to an increased sense of unpredictability within the industry.

Games that have been positively received, such as Hi-Fi Rush, aren’t exempt from shutting down (luckily, the Tango Gameworks studio was bought out and won’t disappear permanently).

It seems as if Xbox is gradually morphing into a service primarily focused on subscriptions, with its “This is an Xbox” campaign and Xbox Play Anywhere expansion, hinting at a shift away from its traditional console-rooted identity.

Indeed, there hasn’t been much news about Everwild’s development recently, and it’s been quite some time since the game was initially announced. It’s plausible that the developers encountered challenges they couldn’t overcome, as opposed to the cancellation being a top-down decision.

At any rate, I’m

Xbox needs to make us believe in it again

It’s challenging to predict Xbox’s future direction considering all the recent news about job cuts, studio shutdowns, and shelved projects. Additionally, their conflicting marketing strategies and emphasis on Xbox Play Anywhere give the impression that they are struggling to stay afloat instead of advancing confidently.

I’m eagerly anticipating 2021 to potentially mark a change in fortune for Xbox, with the upcoming launches of Xbox Ally and the high-end Xbox Ally X PC gaming device this festive season. I’d love to witness some innovative story concepts and game releases from Rare and other Xbox Game Studios developers in the near future, but I’m not entirely optimistic about it.

What has consistently captivated me about Rare games throughout my life is their unique creativity and ability to provide enjoyable, distinctive experiences that aren’t always found elsewhere. I eagerly anticipate the developer will utilize its talented team to continue crafting adventures that immerse me and keep me eager for more. Both Rare and Xbox could greatly benefit from this.

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2025-07-02 23:09