Rare, one of the most storied and influential developers in all gaming history, is celebrating an incredible 40 years in business in August. In an industry where even the most prolific teams are disbanded at the top of their game, it’s extra special to see Rare make it this far. On some level, Rare’s parent company, Xbox, seems to understand the occasion. The company has released a gorgeous premium theme featuring most of its iconic creations. It’s also collaborating with hardware maker 8-BitDo on a Rare-themed Xbox controller, Iam8-bit on a beautiful soundtrack box on vinyl and with Fangamer on some exclusive merch.
But while these are all appropriate ways to commemorate this anniversary, it all feels more subdued than it should. The new theme and controller are undeniably nice drops for long-time fans. But it seems weird that a game company isn’t celebrating this momentous milestone with a new project on the horizon. It feels especially morbid when considering what the last few months have been like for the company and many of its sister studios. What should be a joyous occasion for fans is instead a bummer reminder that one of the stalwart creatives in gaming deserves much better.
