Legendary Game Designer Gregg Mayles Departs Rare After 36 Years

Veteran game developer Gregg Mayles, renowned for his work on classic Nintendo titles and pivotal contributions to Rare’s legacy, has officially parted ways with the British studio after an extraordinary 36-year tenure.

Mayles’ departure, now confirmed by a personal message on his final day, marks the end of an era for Rare, the famed developer behind beloved franchises such as Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country. Mayles joined Rare in 1989, at just 18 years old, and quickly became instrumental to the company’s creative growth.

His earliest game credit was on the NES release Solar Jetman, soon followed by work on Battletoads, a title that remains one of Rare’s most iconic early IPs.

His influence grew in the Super Nintendo (SNES) era, when he was central to the development of the acclaimed Donkey Kong Country trilogy—redefining platformers on Nintendo hardware and earning Rare a place in video game history. As the studio transitioned to working with the Nintendo 64, Mayles stepped up as director for the classic Banjo-Kazooie, a game celebrated for its innovative level design and whimsical characters.

He continued this creative streak with Banjo-Tooie, and later ventured into new territory with games like Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Kinect Sports, Kinect Sports Rivals, and the Xbox live service hit Sea of Thieves. In recent years, Mayles held the post of Creative Director at Rare.

In 2021, he was entrusted with leading Everwild, a new and ambitious Xbox exclusive project, after the departure of former lead Simon Woodroffe.

However, following significant company-wide layoffs at Microsoft in 2025—reportedly affecting 9,000 staffers and resulting in the cancellation of both Everwild and a planned Perfect Dark reboot—Mayles opted to leave the studio. Reflecting on his departure, Mayles shared a heartfelt farewell message with colleagues and fans, signaling a close to his journey at the company that shaped much of his career.

With his exit, only a handful of Rare’s "golden era" team remain—most having moved on to other ventures in the games industry. Notably, Mayles’ brother, Steve Mayles, left Rare in 2014 to co-found Playtonic, the studio behind Yooka-Laylee.

Alongside Rare alumni like Chris Sutherland and Gavin Price, Playtonic has become a new creative hub for former Rare developers, although it too has faced staffing reductions in recent times. Gregg Mayles' contribution to Rare's rich history across platforms such as the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles has left a lasting legacy.

His creative vision helped define some of gaming’s most cherished franchises and shaped the experiences of generations of players worldwide.

As Rare forges a new path in partnership with Microsoft, the departure of its most storied creator signals a profound turning point for the legendary developer.

Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Country Banjo-Kazooie Rare Gregg Mayles developer Legendary Nintendo Everwild Sea of Thieves Perfect Dark Microsoft Playtonic Yooka-Laylee Steve Mayles Chris Sutherland Gavin Price Simon Woodroffe NES SNES Nintendo Switch Xbox