Everwild has been canceled after layoffs at Xbox, Rare heavily affected

Everwild from Rare has been one of the main projects canceled today by Xbox after the wave of layoffs.

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The wave of layoffs confirmed by Microsoft on July 2 continues to have significant consequences for several internal teams. One of the most affected has been Rare, the legendary British studio behind Sea of Thieves, which is undergoing a major internal reorganization.

According to an exclusive report by VGC, sources close to the studio have confirmed that one of its most long-awaited and enduring projects has been canceled after years of uncertain development and no clear updates since its last trailer in 2020.

Everwild was in development for over ten years and never found its footing

Everwild was publicly announced in 2019 as a new intellectual property within the Xbox ecosystem, but it had already been in prototype form for years before that. In 2021, it was completely rebooted under the supervision of veteran Gregg Mayles, a key designer on games like Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and Sea of Thieves. However, the problems defining its approach were never fully resolved.

Team members working on the project have reportedly been informed of its cancellation amidst a restructuring that affects Rare and other studios like Bethesda and King. While Xbox has not yet issued an official statement, a public response is expected in the coming hours.

This is a tough decision for the community, as Rare is one of the most historic developers in the UK, and Everwild represented an opportunity to explore a new creative direction within the Xbox catalog. Now, the team will refocus on other active projects, such as supporting Sea of Thieves, as it reorganizes internally following the cuts.