Rare
Company
26 documents in the library are about Rare, from writers such as The Game Business, Microsoft and GameDiscoverCo. Each has a summary and key insights with the page they come from.
- Articles
- 15
Connections
The documents about Rare on the inner ring, the other games and companies they name on the outer one. Select a cover to see it up close and open it in a new tab; drag to move, pinch or Ctrl + scroll to zoom.
On Steam
Steam estimates as of 9 Oct 2026. Revenue is premium revenue on Steam only: game sales, without DLC.
- Revenue as publisher
- $920K
- 1 games
- Revenue as developer
- $299.1M
- 1 games
- Units sold
- 11.2M
- as publisher or developer
Rare’s best-selling games on Steam
| Game | Released | Share of the best seller | Revenue | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea of ThievesDeveloper | 2020 | $299.1M | 11.2M | |
| BattletoadsPublisher | 2020 | $920K | 72K |
Documents about Rare
Where's Xbox going, and what happens when it gets there?
Microsoft is currently executing a significant restructuring of its Xbox division, prioritizing the profitability of established intellectual property such as Call of Duty, Fallout, and Halo.
- Microsoft is restructuring its Xbox division to prioritize the profitability of established IP like Call of Duty, Fallout, and Halo, moving away from a broad portfolio toward a model of consistent, high-impact output.
- The Game Pass subscription model is driving a shift toward fiscal discipline and organizational streamlining across the gaming industry to address inherent financial constraints.
- Disney has shifted its strategy from internal studio ownership to a disciplined licensing model, highlighted by a $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games.
Microsoft Moves Halo to Activision, Discord Courts Fanduel & Is RPG Grind Gone? |Games for Breakfast
Microsoft is undergoing a significant structural transformation, marked by 268 layoffs across its first-party studios and the strategic reassignment of the Halo franchise to Activision-led teams.
- Microsoft has laid off 268 employees from Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) and is shifting the development of future Halo titles to an Activision-based team.
- Discord is updating its age verification processes to facilitate the integration of advertisements for FanDuel, a move linked to the platform's broader push into sponsored content.
- The role of 'grind' in modern RPGs is being criticized as an outdated mechanic used to artificially extend game length, with hosts suggesting that developers should instead offer level-boosting options or better-integrated side content to prevent player frustration.
Is Xbox making the right decisions? Plus, how AI is (and isn’t) transforming game localization
Xbox is currently executing a major organizational reset aimed at improving profit margins and stabilizing its portfolio.
- Xbox is undergoing a major organizational reset, cutting 206 positions and consolidating development efforts under the Activision and Bethesda umbrellas.
- The company is shifting its strategic focus to core franchises, including the transfer of the Halo intellectual property to Activision.
- As part of its restructuring to improve profit margins, Xbox is divesting studios such as Ninja Theory and Undead Labs.
Is Xbox Making the Right Decisions? Plus, How AI Is Transforming Game Localization
The gaming industry is currently undergoing significant structural shifts, characterized by aggressive corporate restructuring at Xbox and the evolving integration of artificial intelligence in localization services.
- Xbox is undergoing a major structural reset, including 268 job cuts and the consolidation of studios like Rare, World’s Edge, and the Halo IP under Activision, while Obsidian moves to Bethesda.
- The Halo franchise is being transferred to Activision to revitalize the series, as previous efforts under 343 Industries (Halo Studios) failed to meet performance expectations.
- Xbox’s strategic shift follows poor financial performance, where aggressive studio acquisitions failed to drive expected growth in Game Pass subscriptions or console market share.
The Reverse Acquisition of Xbox
The recent restructuring at Xbox, which includes 268 additional layoffs and a significant reorganization of its internal studio structure, signals a fundamental shift in the company’s operational strategy.
- Xbox is undergoing a major restructuring that consolidates its first-party studios under its acquired publishers, with Activision taking over Halo development, Bethesda absorbing Obsidian, and King managing Microsoft Casual Games.
- The restructuring follows a broader reduction of 3,200 roles announced in July 2026, with the most recent update confirming 268 additional layoffs centered on Halo Studios and management layers.
- Xbox’s first-party gaming revenue saw a significant shift after the Activision Blizzard acquisition, jumping from under $2 billion annually through 2019 to $13.7 billion in 2025, effectively overtaking third-party revenue.
Deckchairs on the Titanic
The September 2026 analysis examines the latest organizational restructuring within Microsoft’s Xbox division, characterizing the move as a futile attempt to address systemic failures through administrative consolidation.
- Microsoft has initiated a major restructuring of its Xbox division, resulting in 268 additional layoffs and the consolidation of several business units under Activision.
- The company aims to reach a total of 3,200 layoffs for the current fiscal year, with approximately 800 more job cuts expected to follow the 1,600 positions eliminated in July.
- Key organizational changes include folding Halo Studios, Rare, and World’s Edge into Activision, merging Turn10 with Playground Games, and placing Obsidian under Bethesda’s management.
BeamNG.drive: The Biggest Driving Game Hit Nobody Analyzes?
The analysis examines the sustained success of the vehicle simulation title BeamNG.drive, positioning it as a significant yet under-analyzed evergreen hit in the PC gaming market.
- BeamNG.drive has achieved an estimated $200 million in lifetime gross Steam revenue with over 10 million copies sold, including 1.3 million copies sold in the last 12 months alone.
- The game's success is driven by its 'soft-body physics' engine, which serves as both a consumer-facing vehicle simulator and an enterprise-grade tool for autonomous driving research via BeamNG.Tech.
- Community-driven User Generated Content (UGC) and modding are critical to the game's longevity, with third-party platforms hosting extensive libraries of real-world vehicle models that expand the game's appeal beyond its base offerings.
Microsoft Makes Big Cuts at Halo Studios, Shifts Franchise to Activision
Microsoft is undergoing a significant restructuring of its gaming division as of September 2026, characterized by workforce reductions, studio reassignments, and a fundamental shift in the management of its flagship intellectual property.
- Microsoft is laying off 268 employees, primarily from Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) and Xbox Games Studio management, as part of a broader 3,200-person workforce reduction announced in July.
- Development of the next Halo game is moving to Activision, where a newly assembled team will lead production and publishing, while Halo Studios shifts to a caretaker and support role.
- The potential sale of Ninja Theory has fallen through, leaving the studio at risk of closure and subject to a formal consultation process.
Halo to Activision: Xbox Merges Studios and Cuts 268 Jobs
Xbox has initiated a significant organizational restructuring, resulting in 268 job cuts across its internal studios and central operations.
- Xbox is cutting 268 jobs across Halo Studios, the Xbox Game Studios central organization, and other first-party teams as part of an ongoing restructuring process.
- Halo development is being transferred to Activision, which will lead both existing projects and the creation of a new, purpose-built team for the next title in the franchise.
- Rare and World’s Edge have been moved to report under Activision, while Obsidian will now report directly to Bethesda.
AppLovin Q2 2026 Earnings: A Rare Earnings Miss
AppLovin’s second-quarter 2026 financial results represent a notable deviation from the company’s recent performance trends, characterized by a rare earnings miss that triggered a significant market reaction.
- AppLovin missed Q2 2026 analyst expectations, reporting $1.92 billion in revenue against an estimated $1.94 billion.
- Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2026 reached $1.61 billion, falling short of the $1.63 billion consensus estimate.
- The company provided Q3 2026 guidance that also failed to meet analyst projections.
Xbox Game Studios Boss Craig Duncan Steps Down
Craig Duncan has stepped down as the head of Xbox Game Studios after serving in the role for approximately 18 months.
- Craig Duncan has stepped down as the head of Xbox Game Studios after more than 18 months in the role, having replaced Alan Hartman in November 2024.
- Duncan oversaw 14 studios including Halo Studios, The Coalition, and Rare, and his studios will now report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty until a replacement is found.
- Louise O’Connor, Xbox Game Studios chief of staff, is also departing the company; she joined Rare in 1999 and became chief of staff in September 2025 after leaving Rare following the cancellation of Everwild.
Project Escher Finds a Global Stage Through PlayStation Partnership
Rare Castle, an independent game studio based in Cairo, has secured a strategic partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment to bring its episodic cinematic adventure, Project Escher, to the global PlayStation ecosystem.
- Cairo-based independent studio Rare Castle has entered a strategic partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment to bring its title, Project Escher, to the global PlayStation ecosystem.
- The collaboration provides Rare Castle with access to Sony’s advanced development tools, technical support, and worldwide distribution network.
- Project Escher is an episodic cinematic adventure featuring photorealistic, surreal environments and a unique gameplay mechanic that integrates the protagonist's inner monologue.
