Rare Veteran Gregg Mayles Departs After 35 Years: A Look Back at an Iconic Nintendo Developer’s Legacy

Gregg Mayles, one of the most influential figures in the history of British game development and a pillar of Rare, has officially departed from the studio after a remarkable 35-year tenure.

His exit, recently confirmed by Rare to Time Extension, follows widely reported restructuring at Microsoft and the cancellation of the highly anticipated project Everwild, which Mayles had been steering as Creative Director. Mayles began his journey with Rare in 1989 at just 18 years old.

He earned his first game credit on the NES title Solar Jetman.

Quickly making his mark, Mayles went on to design Battletoads, establishing one of Rare's most recognizable early franchises.

His creative talents continued to shine with the design of the famed Donkey Kong Country trilogy for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), games that played a pivotal role in solidifying Rare's partnership with Nintendo and greatly influencing platforming game design in the 1990s. Stepping into a directorial role, Mayles was the first director on Banjo-Kazooie for the Nintendo 64—a title that would become one of Rare's most celebrated properties and an ongoing fan favorite among the Nintendo community.

His subsequent portfolio includes directing Banjo-Tooie, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Kinect Sports, Kinect Sports Rivals, and contributing significantly to the development of Sea of Thieves.

Mayles was named Creative Director at Rare and, in 2021, took charge of Everwild following the departure of Simon Woodroffe. Mayles’ departure aligns with sweeping layoffs at Microsoft, which have affected over 9,000 positions and resulted in the cancellation of multiple projects, including Rare's Everwild and the reboot of Perfect Dark, another franchise that originated on the Nintendo 64 under the Rare banner.

This marks the exit of nearly all staff members from the studio's so-called 'golden era.' Commenting on his career, Mayles noted that contributing to beloved franchises across Nintendo hardware and evolving with Rare over several decades has been an extraordinary opportunity.

Rare, which once stood as a cornerstone of Nintendo’s third-party development, saw many of its prominent staff migrate to new ventures in recent years.

Steve Mayles, Gregg's brother, left Rare in 2014 and helped establish Playtonic, known for creating Yooka-Laylee, alongside other Rare alumni such as Chris Sutherland and Gavin Price.

Playtonic itself has become a hub for former Rare developers, although it, too, has had to contend with industry layoffs. Gregg Mayles’ legacy is indelibly linked to the golden era of Rare and its celebrated lineup of Nintendo hits.

As the studio navigates new challenges in the modern gaming landscape, Mayles’ contributions to titles like Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie will continue to resonate with Nintendo fans and the broader gaming community for years to come.

Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Country Nintendo Banjo-Kazooie Rare Gregg Mayles developers Everwild Microsoft Playtonic Steve Mayles Chris Sutherland Gavin Price