Eurogamer

Staff at Kinect Sports developer Rare are under threat of redundancy, Microsoft has confirmed.

A "small number of employees" at the legendary UK studio have been notified that their jobs are at risk, Microsoft said.

"While redundancies are never easy, these organizational changes are part of Rare's ongoing strategy and operational planning which typically coincides with the shipment of a title," Microsoft said in a statement issued to Edge.

"We are working closely with the affected employees to support them through this transition and help them apply for other roles within Microsoft.

Speaking to Edge, sources said the entire 42 person art department at Rare were told their jobs were at risk of redundancy and all affected staff had to apply for 23 managerial jobs at Rare's new Birmingham office.

If true, 19 staff will be let go – as Edge points out, the maximum number of redundancies allowed under EU employment law without the need for a full consultation process.

Microsoft, however, countered this claim. "Whilst we're not discussing the exact numbers involved, I can assure you that it's far fewer than you've indicated and represents a small percentage of the total Rare team," the Xbox 360 manufacturer said.

Reports suggest Rare intends to become a studio primarily staffed by contractors. Edge's source said development of the Kinect Sports franchise may be shared between Rare and Kinect Joy Ride maker Big Park.

In October last year Microsoft veteran Scott Henson took over Rare as studio manager. Following his appointment he told Eurogamer Kinect development is the "centrepiece" of Rare's strategy.

"Kinect will be a key part of the studio's future," he said. "I'm not suggesting it's going to be exclusive, but it will be the centrepiece of our strategy for sure, because there is a lot of opportunity there."

Rare's impressive back catalogue of franchises includes Kameo: Elements of Power, Killer Instinct, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark and Viva Piñata – all Microsoft-owned intellectual properties.

In March 2010 Microsoft released a Perfect Dark remake on Xbox Live Arcade with updated graphics.

Kinect launch title was a commercial success, and is the best-selling Kinect game by far, according to figures from UKIE/GfK Chart Track.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-16-kinect-sports-dev-hit-by-redundancies

I guess you don't really need an art department when you're going to be working strictly with Xbox Live avatars from here on out.

If thats true its a very sad day for Rare. I have always held out hope that Rare would release a true Banjo Threeie as well as a true sequal to Conkers Bad Fur Day, Perfect Dark Zero wasn't as good as the N64 game but it was still a decent game.

I hope if its true that Rare will not be working on their IP's anymore that Microsoft out sources them to other internal or external studios. Rare had so many promising IP's it would be stupid for Microsoft to let them die.

Of course you do, someone has to draw all those avatar clothes 

Oh my beloved Rare, what have you become? :'(

I tell you what, a Kinect-exclusive Kameo 2 might just get me purchasing the motion sensing device.

They still haven't figured out how to walk in a 3D enviroment bigger then the space you set up kinect for so I don't see that happening 

trash like everything else Microsoft touches? Why do you think Nokia is expected to be bankrupt in about 2 years, Microsoft is involved. Why do you think Bungie was reduced to a single game series that constantly got worse? Microsoft was involved. The number of PC RTS games declined Microsoft was involved. Some PC games are bogged down by horrid software, Microsoft is still involved. Even internet standards were dying till Internet Explorer had competition.

Seriously, unless it's an operating system or the Xbox console itself, everything Microsoft touches rots away at its core. And unfortunately I'm telling the truth, Microsoft has a very bad history of destroying companies. No idea why it happens, just does. And if anyone here start a company and Microsoft wants to purchase assets or sign a deal, file bankruptcy immediately.

Edit with sources:

Nokia deal - http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/nokias-microsoft-deal-leads-to-shareholder-revolt-call-for-a-plan-b-updated/44870

Bungie - http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6180462.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0

RTS - http://www.shacknews.com/article/55941/age-of-empires-dev-ensemble

GFWL - http://www.bit-tech.net/columns/2009/01/31/this-was-meant-to-be-a-fallout-3-dlc-review/1

IE - http://www.gtalbot.org/BrowserBugsSection/MSIE7Bugs/CWilsonMSIE7AndCSSCompliance.html

And I can also do this for Sony, Valve, Apple, and maybe Nintendo.. as Nintendo typically is the industry's goldenboy so thats a tough one..

Sony Rootkits - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal

Fake blog - http://www.imediaconnection.com/news/12874.asp

 Apple vs Adobe - http://mashable.com/2010/01/28/flash-ipad/

Valve anti-customer sometimes - http://www.ripoffreport.com/consumer-services/valve-corporation/valve-corporation-unrelenting-acb4e.htm

require two Kinects.. should be easily done then.

Careful mate, I have been warned twice about this sort of stuff in the past couple of days, apparently you can spout what he spouts but have no rebuttal