Former Everwild executive producer becomes Xbox Game Studios' Chief of Staff

Rare veteran and former executive producer of the studio’s now-cancelled Everwild, Louise O'Connor, has now been named Xbox Game Studios’ Chief of Staff.

The details:

• In July, it was announced that Microsoft was making widespread cuts across the company, affecting many of its first-party game studios and projects. Among those affected was Rare, which saw an undisclosed number of employees being let go as it scrapped Everwild, a new IP that was originally revealed back in 2019.
• As reported by VGC, O’Connor, who had worked at Rare for 25 years in its art, animation, and incubation teams dating back to Conker’s Bad Fur Day, has now moved from the studio to join Xbox Game Studios as Chief of Staff. In the new role, she will be responsible for overseeing the company’s various teams, reporting to former Rare boss Craig Duncan, who became Xbox Game Studios’ head last year.
• While O’Connor has found a new position within the Microsoft family, it is currently unknown where other senior creatives from Rare will be headed. Sea of Thieves and Banjo-Kazooie director Gregg Mayles announced his departure from the studio after over 35 years, having led the development of Everwild until its cancellation.

More gaming news:

• Xbox has announced that cheaper tiers of Game Pass will soon be able to access its cloud gaming service.
• Sony is reportedly working on a handheld PlayStation console to release alongside the PS6.