Development veteran Gregg Mayles has confirmed that he has left Rare. 

In a post on Twitter, the Banjo-Kazooie director wrote that his last day at the studio was yesterday (Tuesday, October 14th). This follows reporting in the summer that Mayles was set to leave the company. 

"Today was my last day at Rare," he wrote on social media. "Thanks to everyone who played and enjoyed any of the games I helped create while I was there. Also thanks to all the people that worked on the games alongside me.”

Mayles has worked at Rare for over 36 years now. He was one of the studio's early hires and has helmed such projects as Donkey Kong Country, Banjo Kazooie and Grabbed by the Ghoulies, as well as more recent titles such as Kinect Sports and Sea of Thieves. 

Most recently, Mayles was leading Everwild, though that project was cancelled earlier this year as part of a raft of restructuring at Microsoft. 

Today was my last day at @RareLtd. Thanks to everyone who played and enjoyed any of the games I helped create while I was there. Also thanks to all the people that worked on the games alongside me. It seemed fitting that I should say farewell with one final rhyme! pic.twitter.com/X54u8Bc2oI

— Gregg Mayles (@Ghoulyboy) October 14, 2025