Gregg Mayles, a veteran game designer from Rare, has officially departed the studio after 36 years. He is known for his work on games like Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and Sea of Thieves. Mayles even became Rare's creative director after its founders departed. His exit follows a difficult period for Rare, including layoffs and project cancellations. The cancellation of Everwild, a project Mayles directed after a troubled development, likely contributed to his decision. Microsoft's recent cuts extended to other studios like Halo and Forza. The company also increased the prices of Xbox consoles and Game Pass Ultimate. These changes suggest a shift towards subscriptions and game publishing. This transition appears to be causing significant disruption within Microsoft's gaming division. Mayles bid farewell with a rhyming message on social media.