New images from Rare’s cancelled game Everwild have finally been released, reportedly from an artist who had been working on the project.
Acquired by Microsoft in 2003, Rare is best known for titles such as Sea of Thieves, Banjo-Kazooie, and Conker’s Bad Fur Day.
Before these images surfaced, details about Everwild had remained scarce since its announcement in 2019. Categorised as an action-adventure title, the third-person game was said to take place in a natural and magical world.
The screenshots above, discovered by MP1st, offer a glimpse into the game’s UI, environments, and character designs, providing players with a look at the game’s visual identity.
The lack of detail surrounding the project only fuelled further speculation and excitement among fans. Early trailers showcased a vibrant art style with mystical creatures and rich, atmospheric landscapes.
Problems, however, were frequent throughout the development process. The game was rebooted in 2021, following the departure of its original Creative Director, Simon Woodroffe. He was replaced by veteran designer Gregg Mayles, with the game taking a new design and gameplay structure.
Earlier development reports suggested a loop involving nurturing a magical world by forming bonds with creatures and interacting with spirits, without combat.
In July 2025, Rare’s Everwild was officially cancelled, a consequence of Microsoft’s wider gaming layoffs, which affected up to 9,000 employees. Alongside Everwild, Microsoft cancelled a remake of Rare’s Perfect Dark.
After the cancellation, it was reported that Gregg Mayles and Louise O’Connor, longstanding employees of Rare, would be leaving the company, with O’Connor joining Xbox Game Studios.
This is not the first time Rare veterans have departed the company. Several former developers previously founded Playtonic Games, the studio behind Yooka-Laylee, a spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series.
What happens next remains to be seen, but some fans feel that Everwild showcased the imaginative world-building that helped Rare become a gaming staple.
Words by Thomas Stanier
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.