Microsoft Doesn't Want Rare to be Synonymous with Kinect

After the removal of Kinect from the Xbox One's box, things have been uncertain for Rare. The developer, known for games like Banjo-Kazooie and GoldenEye during the N64 era, was largely relegated to Kinect titles for the latter half of the Xbox 360's lifetime after they were acquired by Microsoft in 2002.

After layoffs earlier this year, the studio is currently in pre-production on its next project, and all facts point to the game not being Kinect related, and perhaps being something closer to what the studio used to be known for.

Speaking with CVG, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer echoed previous statements that he wants the studio to be able to branch out after making games like the recently released Kinect Sports Rivals for years.

"I'm a Rare fan from the N64 days - that's kind of where my relationship with them was built. The range of genres that Rare exceeded at on N64 was crazy; you go from GoldenEye, to Conker and Banjo, Diddy Kong Racing... they were all over the place and they nailed a wide variety of genres.

"So I don't see them as a 'certain genre' studio: their strength has always been in their diversity," Spencer said.

"When they came to Xbox we did Grabbed by the Ghoulies and the Conker remake. They didn't have tremendous success but I think they were fun games. Then they started building out the Avatars - that was really their work - and then frankly Kinect, which they were innovating with before we'd even decided we were going to do something like that. They actually build this kind of wand thing on their own before the Wii came out."

Spencer then commented on the perception that the studio has been "pushed" into being a Kinect exclusive studio, saying that the studio was actually chasing innovation with the motion-sensing camera instead of being forced to do so by the higher-ups at Microsoft.

"Right now with Rare we're at a point where I don't want the Rare brand to mean Kinect Sports. The Rare brand can be more valuable to them, to us and to gamers than that.

"I think it's about them thinking about the next game that's going to be the next 'Rare game' and really stand for what they are. I know they've got some great ideas. I've not been up to Twycross for maybe six months, but I'm planning on getting up there this fall and seeing bits for the new game. But I know they're hard at work and Phil Harrison has been up talking to them.

"So they've got some new ideas, they're excited about them and I think Rare should, can and will be an important part of our game future."

Recently, after an almost non-existent showing at Gamescom, fans were wondering if the Kinect was no longer part of Microsoft's game plan for the Xbox One, but Microsoft's Phil Harrison reaffirmed the company's dedication to the device.

(Source: CVG)