Gregg Mayles Departs Rare: A Look Back at the Legendary Game Designer’s Impact on Nintendo and Beyond

Celebrated game designer Gregg Mayles has officially parted ways with Rare, marking the end of a remarkable 36-year career at the legendary UK studio.

Mayles' departure closes a significant chapter in the history of game development, particularly for fans of Nintendo and Rare’s classic titles. Mayles is synonymous with some of the industry’s most beloved franchises, including the iconic Banjo-Kazooie, the challenging platformer Battletoads, and the groundbreaking Donkey Kong Country series.

His creative vision helped define an entire era of gaming on Nintendo hardware, particularly during the 1990s and early 2000s, when Rare’s releases for the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 achieved critical and commercial success.

Banjo-Kazooie itself, first released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, remains one of the most celebrated 3D platformers in gaming history, praised for its innovative mechanics and enduring charm.

Mayles also contributed to its Xbox successor, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, and the cult favorite, Banjo-Tooie. After Rare was acquired by Microsoft in 2002, Mayles continued to demonstrate his creative leadership.

Among his more recent achievements, he directed the development of Sea of Thieves, a multiplayer pirate adventure that launched in 2018 on Xbox One and PC.

The title has enjoyed sustained popularity, reaching over 30 million players and expanding to the PlayStation 5 with a release in April 2024.

Despite the game’s success and ongoing updates, a hoped-for release on Nintendo Switch has not materialized. Mayles announced his decision to leave Rare via social media, accompanied by a heartfelt farewell poem.

In his message, he reflected on his journey and the memories created over nearly four decades.

"After 36 years as a designer at Rare, the time has come for a new adventure," he wrote, expressing gratitude to colleagues and fans for their support. His departure follows a period of significant changes at Rare and parent company Microsoft.

Notably, the ambitious project Everwild was cancelled, a move that influenced Mayles' decision to seek new opportunities.

In addition, Microsoft halted development on a reboot of Perfect Dark—a modern return to another N64 classic originally developed by Rare—with The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics also impacted by this restructuring. Gregg Mayles’ legacy is tightly woven into the fabric of Nintendo’s and Rare’s storied game development history.

His work continues to inspire developers and players alike, with titles like Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie remaining mainstays on Nintendo Switch Online’s eShop offerings.

As the industry evolves, Mayles’ influence will undoubtedly persist, and fans will watch closely to see where his next adventure takes him.

Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Country Nintendo Banjo-Kazooie Rare Gregg Mayles Sea of Thieves Beyond Legendary Microsoft Perfect Dark Everwild PS5 Crystal Dynamics The Initiative