Gregg Mayles, Uncommon’s most skilled and influential recreation designer, will depart the corporate after greater than 35 years, sources have instructed VGC.
In line with a number of individuals on the studio, who spoke to VGC anonymously, Mayles will depart Uncommon following information of Everwild’s cancellation on Wednesday. The designer had been directing the undertaking since its staff was restructured in 2021.
In line with the sources, govt producer Louise O’Connor, one other Uncommon veteran whose first undertaking was Conker’s Dangerous Fur Day for Nintendo 64, will even depart the corporate following Everwild’s cancellation.
VGC has requested Microsoft for touch upon this story.
Mayles was considered one of Uncommon’s earliest design hires, together with his first credited recreation, Photo voltaic Jetman, releasing in 1990.
He went on to turn into one of many British studio’s most prolific and celebrated recreation administrators, helming Donkey Kong Nation and its sequel, Banjo-Kazooie and Tooie, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, and Viva Pinata.
Below Microsoft, he additionally designed Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Kinect Sports activities, and served because the artistic director for its dwell service hit Sea of Thieves. In complete, Mayles has labored on almost 30 video games at Uncommon.
If confirmed, his departure would mark the tip of an period for the historic British developer, with solely a small group of staff remaining from its pre-Microsoft period.
Based in 1985, Uncommon is finest identified for Battletoads, Donkey Kong Nation, GoldenEye 007, and Banjo-Kazooie. Microsoft acquired Uncommon in 2002, and it has since gone on to create titles comparable to Kameo, Viva Piñata, Kinect Sports activities, and Sea of Thieves below the Xbox banner.
On Wednesday, Microsoft confirmed the cancellation of Everwild as a part of vital company-wide layoffs, which may reportedly see as many as 9.000 individuals laid off throughout all of its departments.
“We’ve got made the choice to cease growth of Good Darkish and Everwild in addition to wind down a number of unannounced tasks throughout our portfolio,” stated Microsoft Studios’ Matt Booty in a company-wide e-mail.
“As a part of this, we’re closing considered one of our studios, The Initiative. These selections, together with different adjustments throughout our groups, mirror a broader effort to regulate priorities and focus assets to arrange our groups for higher success inside a altering trade panorama.
“We didn’t make these decisions flippantly, as every undertaking and staff characterize years of effort, creativeness, and dedication.”
