Microsoft and Rare are ‘evaluating what to do next’

Will the upcoming un-bundling of Kinect have any negative ramifications for Microsoft’s Rare studio?

That was the question put to Xbox boss Phil Spencer by OXM, although the exec of course stressed the ongoing importance of the Kinect Sports, Viva Pinata, Perfect Dark, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Donkey Kong Country, Diddy Kong Racing and Banjo Kazooie developer.

Rare is an important studio," Spencer said. [It has] just come off the successful launch of Kinect Sports Rivals. I think I’ve heard a few times from people asking about Rare – they’re in the process of evaluating what they want to do next, and we’re working closely with them to see what their new project will be.”

Microsoft has already stressed the ongoing importance of Kinect, but does that mean Rare will be forced to continue pumping out games for the motion camera?

"I’ve also laughed when people have tried to use the word, what I ‘force’ them to do,” Spencer added. If you’re around any independent studio, or like Rare a studio that’s independent-minded, you’ll know that forcing a studio to do something is never a successful equation.

So they’re free to look at all different kinds of opportunities, they always have been, and we’re having a great time trying to work out with them what their next game might be, but we have nothing to announce right now."