Rare Studio Moved Under Activision in Xbox Restructure
Xbox's restructuring places Sea of Thieves developer Rare under Activision's management, sparking fan fears the studio could become a support team for Call
Microsoft's sweeping Xbox reset has placed Sea of Thieves developer Rare under the management of Activision. This consolidation is part of broader changes that include layoffs and shifting responsibilities across Microsoft's first-party studios.
Fans of the pirate adventure game are now deeply concerned for the future of the historic British studio. Their worry stems from Activision's past record with acquired development teams. In online forums, players point to studios like Neversoft, which was absorbed into Call of Duty support work. Many fear a similar fate awaits Rare.
Fan Reactions and Fears
Well, if the years of watching how Activision does things is any indication, then we can expect one thing in the future: Rare as a CoD support team in the CoD mines like every other studio Activision touches, said one fan. The sentiment is echoed widely. Another player on Reddit stated, "Can't see this being a good thing, if the way Activision has handled COD is anything to go by."
Criticism of Activision's practices is a central theme in the discussion. Players cite the company's history of aggressive monetization, use of generative AI, and franchise oversaturation. A self-described lifelong Call of Duty fan commented, "Activision is probably one of, if not the worst, companies in gaming. Everything they touch withers and dies."
Rare's Recent History and Uncertain Path
Rare's position within Microsoft has been uncertain for years. After a celebrated run in the 1990s and 2000s, the studio was assigned to Kinect projects in the early 2010s. Many viewed this as a misuse of its talent. The studio later found major success with the live-service game Sea of Thieves. Beyond that title, however, its output has been sparse.
The studio spent nearly a decade developing a new intellectual property called Everwild. That project was canceled last year after struggling to find a clear direction. This spotty record may influence Microsoft's and Activision's plans for the team. Its future role-whether creating new games or supporting existing franchises-remains officially unoutlined.
A Glimmer of Hope Amid Consolidation
Some community members see a potential silver lining. They hope the move could allow Rare to return to its platformer roots, perhaps developing a new Crash Bandicoot or Banjo-Kazooie game. No such projects have been announced. The lack of a defined roadmap is what gives most observers pause.
Other fans note that the situation could have been worse. They are thankful Rare was not shut down or sold off entirely, as happened to other studios in the industry shake-up. The true impact of this organizational change will likely not be clear for several years. For now, the Sea of Thieves community watches and waits, fearing their favorite developer may be headed for the Call of Duty mines.
