Concerns are mounting among Sea of Thieves players regarding the future of developer Rare after the studio was consolidated under Activision as part of recent Xbox organizational shifts. Microsoft announced significant changes to its first-party studios, including layoffs and restructuring, placing Activision in charge of various responsibilities.
Fans have voiced apprehension on social media, drawing parallels to Activision's past acquisitions of studios like Neversoft, which were subsequently integrated into Call of Duty development. One fan expressed a common sentiment: "Well, if the years of watching how Activision does things is any indication, then we can expect one thing in the future: Rare as a CoD support team in the CoD mines like every other studio Activision touches."
While some players hold out hope that Rare might return to developing games in genres it previously excelled in, such as platformers like Crash Bandicoot or Banjo-Kazooie, the lack of clear direction for the studio has fueled unease. Activision's history of aggressive monetization, the use of generative AI in development, and the oversaturation of franchises like Call of Duty have contributed to player anxieties that similar practices could impact Sea of Thieves.
Another player remarked, "Can't see this being a good thing, if the way Activision has handled COD is anything to go by." A lifelong Call of Duty fan echoed these sentiments, stating, "Everything they touch withers and dies. Mass layoffs, AI, crazy microtransactions, and all sorts of bullshittery will be commencing in the near future based on their track record."
Despite the concerns, some players acknowledge that Rare's continued existence as a studio is preferable to its closure or sale, particularly given the studio's past struggles. After a period of being assigned to Kinect development in the early 2010s, Rare found renewed success with the popular Sea of Thieves. However, the studio's output outside of this title has been limited, with its other major project, Everwild, reportedly canceled last year after experiencing significant development challenges.
The long-term impact of these changes on Rare and its future projects remains to be seen, with the possibility of the studio transitioning into a support role for franchises like Call of Duty and Halo a point of significant worry for the community.