Is Rare Working On A Launch Title For The Next Xbox? Plus: More Gaming Secrets.

On his CV, a British freelance animator says he is "Currently Working on a AAA Next-Gen Xbox Release Title .. for 2013." In a post on his firm's Facebook page from last September, the animator states that he is "working with Rare … on a new title," but cannot divulge any details due to confidentiality agreements. However, he does generically hint that the game "will be big." Combining these two items together, it doesn't seem unreasonable to infer that Rare is probably making a launch window game for the next Xbox.

[GalacticEmpire]

When was the last time Rare made a AAA game?

Rare have no soul.

@strongman Thanks, I genuinely couldn't remember.

edit: I hope it's Killer Instinct, one of my fave games on SNES. Wonder if they have it in them to redeem themselves.

[StrongMan]

Perfect Dark back in 2000. Rare is a joke now.

[LackTrue4K]

dam......that is such a long time!!!

Rare is a nobody now, why even make an article about them 13 years later?!

[nosferatuzodd]

that was with nintendo help rare with out nintendo is like goku without sayian powers

[Leviathan]

Yay, another kinekt game. Iv'e been waiting for so long. I can finally rest assured knowing now that RARE is making another game for my favorite gaming device. VIVA KINEKT for the HARDCORE!! /s

[nukeitall]

Actually, Kinect Sports is a very well made game and sold more than most other supposed "AAA" games. The first Kinect Sports title sold well over 3 million copies alone.

So no, Rare isn't a joke. It actually produces high quality titles, just not aimed at you fangirls that don't understand that not everyone caters to you alone.

[animegamingnerd]

i have said it and i will say it again retro is the new rare

[brich233]

Its possible that it can be Killer Instinct now, because microsoft finally got the name rights.

[Gildarts]

Yeah its pretty much confirmed that there will. be a New killer instinct, only we don't know who's going to make it. I doubt its rare since there are few original rare employees left.

[SilentNegotiator]

And you trust modern Rare to touch KI?

[brich233]

killer instinct kinect? oh no!

[coolbeans]

"When was the last time Rare made a AAA game?"

This explanation has been regurgitated hundreds of times now: their framing of the term "AAA game" is in regards to budget.

[GalacticEmpire]

Yes, you're right I should have said "decent game". That should open the gates for the argument that "decent" is subective :-)

[coolbeans]

^ No, you shouldn't have. Because then I'd have to list an MS-published Rare game I liked and risk public shaming. :P

[Sitdown]

I liked Kameo....

[coolbeans]

@Sitdown

Same here of what I've played so far (at snowy region). It seems to me I'm in the minority regarding this: I also liked PDZ.

[ichimaru]

Pessimistic much. They haven't released a game in nearly 5 yrs so whatever they have been working on this long has potential in my eyes

[wolokowoh]

You're forgetting Kinect games but you're right in that the last actual controller based ones were that sequel to Viva Pinata and Banjo-Kazooie well over 4 years ago. The Kinect games are why people are pessimistic.

[BrianC6234]

Rare is nothing now. They're a name only. Is anyone from their early days even there now? There was a reason Nintendo dumped them. It's too funny anyone would even write about them.

[_-EDMIX-_]

somebody would have to be on crack to think Rare would make a AAA game.

Rare is pretty much a shell of its former self. I saw them making avatars Kinect games and kart games etc. needless to say I don't look forward to a single thing that they're going to make. that team is nothing more than a name.

people who keep saying names like Viva pinyata in Perfect Dark zero etc you're either delusional or something might be wrong with you those games were absolutely horrible. if that's the best of what the current Rare can do I truly don't care for what the next game they make is going to be.

at this point it really isn't a reason to talk about or hype this team anymore. it's almost like trying to hype in Infinity Ward game and disregarding the team is no longer really there other than a few staff. now I'm looking forward to ReSpawn's new game!!!!!! nevermind what they were called before and they were before, at this point its just a name.

[MadLad]

Being that most of the top designers left to join other companies, or start their own, before Microsoft even bought them, why are people surprised that the quality of the work they've put out has taken a nose dive?

[nirwanda]

Banjo tooie was rereleased in 2009 does that count. ;)

[iamlegend9999]

That would be good i think. I keep hearing good things about rare from n4g and ign. Hopefully its true so i can see what the buzz is about.

[mafia_pc]

Rare has a completely new team who have started work since 2010 on an action/adventure new AAA ip for next Xbox.
I think they can do amazing things.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Are they really? I didn't know that, source?

Edit: I see, thanks.

A brand new Ip from Epic would be a megaton in my opinion.

[Freedomland]

Don't worry, that megaton will be multiplat.

[Anzil]

gunna be cabbage most staff left!

[dcbronco]

Yeah, there's no way you can hire new people that can make a good game. Everyone knows every good game ever made was made by Rare or people from rare. So it's not possible a new team could make a new game.

[Gimmemorebubblez]

Guys um...Rare has gone extinct. The talented staff (arguably the best of their time) at Rare that made those fantastic games have largely moved on. The heart and soul of the Rare is gone and all that is left are fossil records of the studio. Im not saying that Rare will not be able to make great games again all I am saying is that the Rare we all knew and love just doesn't exist anymore.

[mafia_pc]

"Microsoft Studios expands Rare Ltd. to a second additional 90+ person in Digbeth, Birmingham to produce further titles"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Rare is three team now, the first team helped Lucid Games for the next PGR, the second team is working on an action/adventure new ip and the last small team working probably on the next Kinect Sports.

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[Gimmemorebubblez]

Im not sure what you trying to say.......??????????

Yes they have got lots of teams now but the people that made Rare GREAT in the late 90's and early 2000's have moved on. Again, under the right guidance Rare could make great games again but they wont be made by the same people who made Perfect Dark and so on. The Rare that made Perfect Dark doesn't(hardly) exist anymore for better or for worse.

[ichimaru]

rare with 90+ new members likely have something worth playing up their sleeve. Of course none of this really interest you, you logged on to n4g and posted in a rear article to troll. your task is complete. congratualtions

[DOMination-]

Well the original members of Rare left in the 90s to form free radical and bring us Crysis 2 multiplayer and Haze. Lets just wait and see...

[aviator189]

If rare is reviving old franchises and actually putting good work into them or even new ones, then I'm happy. I just hope the games turn out well.

Their work with their viva pinata games gives me a little hope that the team can still pull off good games.

[ichimaru]

I loved viva pinata :(

[NegativeCreepWA]

While Viva Pinata wasn't my type of game, it seemed too be a really solid title.

[Root]

You know whats going to happen on stage

Rare - "Hey guys...well were looking forward to the XBOX and because of this we've been working on Conker 2, Kameo 2 and also a true Banjo Threeie game....

<CROWD CHEERS>

"...However Micro-...I mean we cancelled them to bring you guys....Kinect Sports 2"

[Mono-san]

I almost expect MS to have a strong lineup for their next console, to cash in on their least targeted consumer demographic: The dedicated gamers.

Of course, only to turn their back on them after they have their money to play it safe and go all casual/shooter/timed exclusivity again.

Yes, I'm bitter.
Fool me once... and so on.

[DigitalRaptor]

Can something be funny but sad at the same time?

Your post achieved that.

[Jek_Porkins]

I'll do a little history lesson that trolls will ignore.

Rare was formed in the 1980's by the Stamper Brothers, they ran a tight ship and did 40+ shovel ware games for the NES, they forced people to work 7 days a week, all holidays except Christmas when they had a half day.

The majority of that original Rare up and quit, then they reformed and did some nice things on the SNES like Donkey Kong.

The main team of Rare was working on Banjo Kazooie for the N64, but they was also trying to make Goldeneye as well, so they formed a totally new faction of Rare, 10 developers were given the job to build the game, 9 of these people had never made a game before in their lives. So it wasn't even Rare as people know, or make them out to be that made that great game.

Before 2000 another round of Rare employees quit, almost all the members who worked on Banjo, Goldeneye and Donkey Kong left due to working conditions yet again.

Once they were sold to Microsoft a few years later, some more people quit, but Rare was still able to make some of my favorite games this generation and they developed the Xbox Live Avatar system from the ground up, a process that started 2 years before the Wii came out.

Kameo Elements Of Power is one of my favorite games.

Viva Piniata 1 and 2 are both brilliant.

Banjo Kazooie Nuts And Bolts was fun and inventive, people trashed it because it wasn't the same thing, even though most gamer's complain about games that don't change.

Perfect Dark Zero was fun, but it lacked something, I still enjoyed it and it was the first game I bought for the 360 back in 2005 when it launched.

People bash Kinect Sports, but that was the game that worked like it was supposed to, and they didn't even develop Kinect Sports 2, that was Big Park and an "assist" from Rare in name only. So they have done some great things, and people need to learn the history before bad mouthing them.

Where was everyone when Conker sold like poo on the N64? Or the original Xbox? I love how "Everyone" is a fan of that game, yet nobody bought it.

SMH, you cant just rag on them because Microsoft owns them, they've done great things this generation and hopefully they can shut up some of the doubters with some new AAA titles for the next Xbox, but of course fools will find something else to hate on them for.

[ichimaru]

Didn't know that thanks for sharing. May I ask for the source. I agree that people bash them but I think it's just because it's the popular thing to do right now (like how everyone hates EA yet admit to playing BF). Not to mention we are on N4G so take that as you may.

[Jek_Porkins]

Sure thing man, aside from learning about Rare because I'm a fan of the industry, one of my favorite Machinima covered them!

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Part 5, final one.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Enjoy! It's a really interesting history.

[Munky]

Rare has hired a insane amount of ex racing related devs which as led to A LOT of speculation as to what their next project(s) is.

[Tyre]

@ Jek_Porkins Great info, only you missed a few important facts....Rare did indeed start in the early 80ies, but not making games for the NES. They started as the company "Ultimate (play the game)" making games for Sinclair's ZX Spectrum (Home computer). Games such as 'Underworld'/'Sabr ewulf'/'Knightlore' ; /'Alien8' were considered the best quality games and one of the 1st using a 3d perspective approach to games. The Ultimate combo and the character Sabrewulf in Killer Instinct are references to their beginnings. The games they made for the ZX Spectrum are still a joy to play. @ Others commenting here...Don't piss on Rare...they've made an unimaginable amount of games on almost all systems during their 30 years of existence. Most companies didn't survive that long, but Rare is still here.

[Jek_Porkins]

Ya, I kind of started my post after they went to Nintendo. They made a lot of good games, and I believe the quality is still there and has been for a long time, but there aren't any members from the Nintendo, Donkey Kong, Banjo Kazooie, Stamper Brothers days.

Don't get me wrong, I love Rare and I have every game they put out this generation, 100% beat Viva Pinata 1 and 2, I was just starting from the Nintendo days when they went to Nintendo and cracked their chip and illegally made games to show off to them.

[strickers]

What a bunch of cobblers . Kameo was average at best.

[coolbeans]

Way to stay on target, Porkins. :)

[GiantFriendlyCrab]

The real Rare is rare,

[miDnIghtEr20C_SfF]

There will be an awesome water based game coming from RARE... you just wait and see.

[from the beach]

Bit of a no-brainer as a far as next-gen rumours go, nevertheless still exciting!

[Double_O_Revan]

Even if they do have one, it'll be a Kinect 2.0 game. So it really doesn't matter.

[turnerdc]

Believe it or not...Rare didn't stop making good games when they left Nintendo! Sure they've made the Kinect Sports games (which are actually some of the better Kinect games) but the way people talk about them makes it seem like they're complete garbage. Let's look at the games they've released since leaving Nintendo:

Conker Live and Reloaded - 78 metacritic
Kameo - 79 metacritic
Perfect Dark Zero - 81 metacritic
Viva Pinata - 84 metacritic
Viva Pinata Trouble in Paradise - 82 metacritic
Viva Pinata Pocket Paradise - 82 metacritic
Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts - 79 metacritic

These games are FAR from bad games. Rare is still here and they've consistently released some pretty good games.

[ALLWRONG]

Doesn't matter, their reality doesn't allow them to see your comment.

[OpieWinston]

Hoping another COnker game is released, Possible Original/Sequel Bundle :D.

[strickers]

Just massively over rated. Like many 360 exclusives . The games media have always been kind to MS

[thebudgetgamer]

If it's a new R.C. Pro-Am I'm in.

[TheGrimReaper]

Hopefully nothing which could spur my interest...
PS4 will be day 1 for me, regarding the announced games and features.
I don't want to be persuaded in buying next Xbox day 1 too.

Gaming is too expensive ^^"

[NeoBasch]

Kinect Sports: Season 3?!?

Must be. lol

[ichimaru]

so brave

[Bigpappy]

That is actually a safe bet. But no LOL from me. I am super excited to see what Kinect 2 brings. Kinect 2 is going to be a huge selling point for Xbox next over Wii-u and PS4. Xbox next is set to be the console of choice for the kids and ladies. But it will also hold on to most of its core base from 360. Holiday numbers could be shockingly good for M$ if they play this right. My young nieces and nephews are already asking their moms to upgrade from Wii to 360, just for Kinect games. Kinect sports is a huge favorite.

[wolokowoh]

There will be another Kinect game but Rare is big enough to work on multiple projects simultaneously. They put out Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo at launch of the 360 in the same year they released 4 other games. They also put a game every year except 2009 and 2012. If they actually take time to develop their next title, they can get back on track to being great.

[NeoBasch]

I actually loved Kameo. PDZ was good in parts. But I'll keep away from their Kinect stuff.

[FrigidDARKNESS]

It is Perfct Dark Zero oe KI. They have been working on next gen titles for awhile.

[kickerz]

I look forward to Rares next game :)

[Max-Zorin]

Seeing how MS finally came to an agreement with Fox for the Killer Instinct name, I'm pretty sure we'll see a KI3 and possibly new IP's.

[aviator189]

Hopefully. :)

[Y_5250]

A Lot of the original RARE members are with Retro Studios right now. The developer of Donkey Kong Returns and more great Wii games! So I'll be surprise if it's a great game. Hopefully the actually sequel of Banjo Kazooie!

[ThatsGaming]

Not very much of a surprise. Rare did not ship a title in 2012. And only shipped Kinect Sports 1 and 2 in 2010 and 2011.

Also, Rare opened the 360 with two launch titles. So, the big question is it one or two launch titles?

[mochachino]

After half a decade of nothing good...Rare who?

[ZeroX9876]

simple,
No kinect oriented game, can add features with it, just not primarily kinect control.

that would be the first step.

I've been hoping for a new conker for quite a while (or KI). I bought a 360 way back near the launch date. When I saw perfect dark, I had some small hope that conker would see a full sequel on the 360, but they gave us the american vehicle loving banjo. Not that I don't enjoy racing game since I have forza 4, GT5 and many more. It just didn't fit in with the banjo universe(at least for me).

Sure the old Rare is gone, but it doesn't mean that there's no chance at all those franchises can be revived.

I got no hype whatsoever for this game or any Rare related title since a while, but with the launch of a new console, you never know.

[Picnic]

Rare might as well make a game where Banjo , Conker, Joanna Dark and Cooper from Grabbed by the ghoulies all combine forces in an Uncharted-like adventure. Don't put Kameo in - that'd be too many powers.

[cleverusername]

Well it won't be for the last xbox will it?

[Amigaengine]

Conker 2

[FlyingFoxy]

Just give Rare to Nintendo already.. Unless something good comes and not casual boring Kinect stuff then i aint interested in the least. MS can keep their multiple Halo releases that are overrated, i will wait for quality FPS's on my PC like Half Life 3. Plus consoles arent the only ones with exclusives.

[-Gespenst-]

This video only becomes more and more true.

[Freak of Nature]

A Banjo/Conker team up in an act/adventure platformer in an open World sandbox sure would be nice....Oh well, one can dream...

[Knightofelemia]

Please let it be Killer Instinct it would make a great launch title for the Xbox720

[KontryBoy706]

The "real" Rare is no more. Microsoft made those guys sit on their hands and release nothing they wanted to work on. Killer Instinct included. There are interviews on Youtube about this. Most of the original guys have been gone. Rare is not Rare like it was

[sway_z]

Rare have the perfect name....because Rarely do they produce games these days....

I miss the 'Conkers Bad Fur Day' era ;)

[TXIDarkAvenger]

I have way to much hope in this being Killer Instinct...but hey anything is possible I suppose. Killer Instinct launch title would definitely be a reason to buy the next Xbox.

[alb1899]

I think Rare with money support can do some magic!