Rare
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 1985
- Employees
- 201-500
- Offices
- 1
About Rare
Rare is a British video game developer based in Twycross, Leicestershire. Established in 1985 by Tim and Chris Stamper alongside Carole Stamper, it followed the founders’ earlier work at Ashby Computers and Graphics Limited, which traded as Ultimate Play the Game. The studio develops games spanning action-adventure, platforming, first-person combat and shared-world multiplayer experiences.
Its capabilities cover full-cycle game design and software development, narrative and character development, technical art, animation, cinematics, audio engineering and music composition. Its multiplayer work also encompasses networking, community-driven systems and ongoing live-service operations, including maintenance and content updates. Stylized characters, distinctive worlds and varied approaches to player interaction feature throughout its catalogue.
From Nintendo to Xbox
During its long association with Nintendo, Rare developed Donkey Kong Country and a series of Nintendo 64 releases including GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing, Donkey Kong 64, Perfect Dark and Conker’s Bad Fur Day. These projects brought together platforming, racing, shooting and character-led adventures within the studio’s portfolio.
Microsoft acquired Rare in September 2002, making it a first-party Xbox developer. Its subsequent releases included Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Kameo: Elements of Power, Viva Piñata, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and the Kinect Sports games. In 2015, Rare Replay collected 30 games from the studio’s history for Xbox One.
Shared-world development
Released in 2018, Sea of Thieves became Rare’s principal modern franchise. The open-world multiplayer pirate adventure combines exploration and shared encounters with continuing content updates. Its availability across Xbox, PC and PlayStation 5 reflects the studio’s work on cross-platform multiplayer engineering and ongoing game operations.
The supplied research also identifies Everwild as an original intellectual property in development. Across its historical catalogue and contemporary projects, Rare’s work brings game engineering, visual development, sound and interactive worldbuilding together within a single development studio.
More about Rare
Leadership
The report identifies Joe Neate and Jim Horth as Co-Studio Heads following the late-2024 leadership transition. Neate previously served as Executive Producer on Sea of Thieves, while Horth was Studio Director. Their predecessor, Craig Duncan, moved to lead Xbox Game Studios after nearly 14 years heading Rare.
Production methods and facilities
Rare used pre-rendered 3D Silicon Graphics technology to bring the visual approach of Donkey Kong Country to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994. Nintendo subsequently held a 49% stake in the company.
The report describes purpose-built development buildings known internally as “barns,” alongside sound design suites, usability testing labs and motion-capture spaces.
Notable credits
25 creditsOffices
Current and former locations of Rare
- Manor Park, Twycross, Atherstone, CV9 3QN, England, United KingdomTwycross, England, United Kingdom
Manor Park Campus
HeadquartersAbout this office
Overall operational headquarters and primary development campus. The premises are physically in Twycross, Leicestershire; Atherstone is the postal town.
- Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SE, UKBirmingham, England, United Kingdom
Fazeley Studios Satellite Facility
Former officeOpened 2010
About this office
Former direct satellite facility housing usability labs and production teams working on Project Natal / Kinect. Operations subsequently returned to Twycross.
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