Rare's highly anticipated title Everwild has reportedly been canceled, according to industry insiders. The cancellation appears connected to Microsoft's latest round of layoffs that impacted the development studio behind the game.

November 14 would have marked six years since Everwild was first announced during the X0 trade show in London. Over its development period, Rare's descriptions of the game evolved significantly, leaving fans uncertain whether it would be an action-adventure title, survival game, or life simulation similar to their popular Viva Piñata series.

Latest Game Information

Video Games Chronicle reports that after more than a decade in development, Everwild has been shelved. This decision coincides with Microsoft's July 2 announcement of workforce reductions affecting approximately 9,000 employees (0.4% of their total staff). Rare, acquired by Microsoft in 2002, is among the studios impacted by these changes.

Rare hasn't released a major new title since 2018's Sea of Thieves, though they contributed to 2020's Battletoads revival. Everwild was positioned as Rare's next flagship project, but development reportedly faced significant challenges. Sources indicate the game underwent a complete reboot in 2021, with veteran designer Gregg Mayles taking over creative direction.

Interestingly, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer offered positive updates about Everwild as recently as February 2025, praising the team's progress during a studio visit. However, the project's lengthy development cycle - potentially dating back to 2014 - and Rare's 200+ person team suggest Microsoft made a substantial investment before ultimately canceling the title.