MS bought Rare to give Xbox 'a softer face'

Monday 2-Aug-2010 5:46 PM "Microsoft didn't need another Bungie"

If you're clamouring for Rare to return to its hardcore ways, you may wish to look away now. The UK studio has revealed that, since being snapped up by Microsoft in 2002, its remit has been to give Xbox "a softer face".

The GoldenEye, Perfect Dark and Banjo Kazooie dev was purchased by Microsoft for an estimated $375 million eight years ago.

According to creative director George Andreas, the firm was immediately put to work 'broadening' the appeal of Microsoft's machine.

"Obviously, MGS, when they bought Rare out, our remit and part of our job as a first party was the try and broaden the demographic for the Xbox 360," he told the latest issue of Edge.

"They certainly didn't need another developer to be creating another Halo. When we released on the Xbox 360 we had two launch titles: Kameo, which was broadening, we had Perfect Dark and as time's gone on we've had Nuts & Bolts, Viva Pinata, the [New Xbox Experience] Avatars... all of the are ways to broaden the demographic and give the Xbox a slightly softer face."

Andreas went on to say that Kinect was Microsoft and Rare' best opportunity to 'broaden' - and that back on the original Xbox, making casual software was like "trying to sell meat at a vegetarian convention".

Rare showed off its latest piece of 'broadening' software' - Kinect Sports - at E3 2010 in June.

The quotes come as part of Edge 218's ten-page Kinect spectacular. The new magazine is with subscribers now and will be in stores tomorrow. Buy your copy of Edge and have it delivered to your door.

source computerandvideogames.com

Its A shame, Nintendo and Rare had a great thing going , the two best Game Developers on the planet for a time IMO.

This might mean that Rare is being restricted in what games they can make. Hopefully not though.

I don't think Rare games were ever good out side of Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct.

I always looked at them as mediocre developers who had perfect timing during the N64 era. I just hope we haven't seen their best work on the 360 already.

By the way, did MS actually purchase Rare? I thought they just had rights to their software.

This direction is why they didn't want the documentary. The Documentary was to put their hardcore Nintendo years on a pedestal with some lingering software of their MS days. Where as the new Rare mandate is well not focused on those days anymore.

Rare reminds me of the Sci-Fi to SyFy channel.

Ya know, when I've always thought of Rare I never thought of a developer that did hardcore, violent games.  Why would this upset people???

rare should go back to making their hardcore games like Mickeys Speedway USA.

It's sad to say but the best thing Rare has done financially since the buyout is avatar clothes.  I'd say in a few years they'll recoup that hefty price tag, if not already. 

I just wish Rare would make killer instinct 3. Thats the only way they can redeem themselves to me.