Rare is a one-of-a-kind game studio where we create the kind of games the world doesn't have, games that are uniquely Rare! Working here offers opportunities unlike anywhere else. You'll be providing players with unforgettable shared experiences in games loved by millions worldwide. Our pirate adventure Sea of Thieves, launched in 2018, is still going strong – and alongside that we're busy creating our next magical world, Everwild, announced in 2019 to a global audience.
We strive to make Rare an amazing place to work, embracing a culture of respect and building a supportive environment for our developers. Our custom-built Twycross studio is situated in the beautiful English countryside, surrounded by woodland and wildlife, with plenty of room for us to grow. Studio benefits are catered to making life easier for staff, including flexible working, a bonus scheme, an industry-leading pension package, private healthcare, mental health initiatives and free events for employees and their families.
By joining Rare, you'll be joining one of the finest studios in the industry with support from the wider Xbox Game Studios network. We're always on the lookout for exceptional people who can bring their expertise and unique thinking to help make our team even stronger!
Role Purpose
When was the last time you boldly stepped into the unknown, threw away the map and forged your own path?
The Everwild team are doing just that. We are a diverse group of people who want to create a game the world does not have. Our heads are full of ambition and our backpacks crammed with passion to bring players an adventure that celebrates the wonder and mystery of nature in a magical world.
We're searching for fellow explorers, dreamers and magic-makers who share our desire and want to be part of Rare’s latest ground-breaking game.
This is a Design Director role, so you’ve already led a few adventures of your own. You know how to guide a team when they get lost, how to inspire them when they’re afraid and how to support them when they can’t quite summit a difficult cliff face.
Bring us your experience and we’ll give you the chance to test your leadership skills in a team that cares deeply about their game and each other.
Responsibilities
Vision:
- Understand the vision and the principals that make up the core of the vision
- Convey and represent the vision with clarity
- Represent the player experience
- Think about the game beyond release and the project as a live service
- Evangelise the project both internally and externally - the team, the studio, Xbox and Audience
Prove/Play:
- Propose and build prototypes with the team to prove out gameplay quickly and efficiently
- Move effectively from prototyping into production quality development
- Build belief in the vision, through play
People:
- Manage and mentor the design team - Career progression, performance, deliverables against our vision goals
- Recruitment - identify skills gaps and grow the team
Qualifications
- A vivid imagination, brimming with ideas that you can guide from conception, through prototyping and into production
- Plenty of blank paper and pens. We’re drawing new maps, not following old ones. You must be self-motivated to lead the way confidently into the unknown
- Problem solving in preparation for not knowing what’s over the horizon. Creating new experiences means tackling challenges that you may not have encountered before
- A first aid kit. When the unexpected happens, your rapid treatment and reassuring knowledge will keep the game and team in tip top condition
- An open mind, a listening ear and a considered word to strengthen and motivate your team
- A voice to shout from the mountain tops; one that inspires our team, our studio, and the entire world about what makes Everwild special
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
