This week has seen the departure of two Xbox Series X|S exclusives’ directors — first Halo Infinite, and now Rare’s upcoming fantasy adventure, Everwild.
As reported by VGC, creative director Simon Woodroffe resigned from Rare Studios earlier this month, following an extended absence. No reason has been announced publicly at this time.
“We thank Simon for all his hard work on Everwild and wish him the very best of luck for the future,” said Rare Studios head Craig Duncan in a statement to VGC. “The Everwild team are in good hands and passionate about building a game that will give players unforgettable experiences in a natural and magical world.”
Little is known about Everwild, first announced at the Xbox Games Showcase in July. Microsoft’s website describes it as “a brand new IP from Rare” where “unique and unforgettable experiences await in a natural and magical world.” It will launch on Xbox Game Pass immediately upon its release.
Following the game’s reveal, Duncan told Polygon, “Part of the reason we haven’t talked a lot about Everwild is because we’re still feeling a lot of these things out. We’re still playing around with gameplay ideas. We’ll have plenty to say in the future on that, but … we have an idea we feel really passionate about, and we think there’s something special.”
With Everwild‘s development still so fluid, it’s unknown how Woodroffe’s departure will impact the final product or its intended launch window. Executive producer Louise O’Connor (Conker’s Bad Fur Day), lead designer James Blackham (Fable Legends), and art director Ryan Stevenson will lead the project in his absence.
