One of Rare’s most experienced developers, Gregg Mayles, is rumored to be leaving the company after Microsoft canceled his long-term project, Everwild. Mayles has been with Rare for over 35 years, marking his exit amid a wave of layoffs at Microsoft. The cancellation of Everwild, which began development in 2014 and underwent a reboot in 2021, was part of a larger restructuring that affected developers across the industry.

After a total of 30 credits with Rare, his contributions include Solar Jetman and Banjo-Kazooie. It remains unclear if his departure is voluntary or due to layoffs affecting potentially 9,000 positions at Microsoft. Along with Mayles, Louise O’Connor, another veteran, is also reported to be leaving. This move follows other cancellations, such as Perfect Dark and an unannounced MMORPG from ZeniMax Online.

Mayles’ legacy will be felt through his direction of beloved titles and his role as a fixture at Rare.