After A Decade, Rare’s Everwild Canceled As Part Of Xbox Layoffs – Report

It’s been reported that Microsoft is implementing layoffs in its gaming division again, and it seems that Rare, an experienced game development studio, will be significantly affected by these changes. Not only might Rare face a reduction in staff, but it appears that their upcoming title, Everwild, has allegedly been scrapped.

As a dedicated follower of gaming news, I must share some disappointing insights about Everwild, a game I’ve eagerly awaited since its unveiling in November 2019. According to reports from VGC, corroborated by Jason Schreier at Bloomberg, the game seems to be facing an uncertain future, having been put on hold after over a decade of development. Despite the initial excitement generated by its trailer in 2020, updates about Everwild have been scarce ever since.

Sources close to VGC claim that Rare, the studio behind Everwild, has struggled to find the right direction for this project, even after it was rebooted. This news leaves me, and many other fans, hopeful but apprehensive about Everwild’s future.

In February, Microsoft’s Gaming CEO Phil Spencer mentioned that Everwild was moving forward smoothly and Rare was making “advancements” on the project. However, Microsoft hasn’t provided many details about potential layoffs yet. What we do know is that approximately 4% of their global workforce, which includes the Xbox division, will be let go. This equates to around 9,000 employees, and it has been confirmed that King, a mobile game developer based in Barcelona, is reducing its staff by 10%.

In an internal communication to employees, Spencer explained that the layoffs were essential for Xbox to sustain long-term prosperity, considering its flourishing video game industry and the ongoing project of creating next-generation gaming consoles.

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2025-07-02 18:09