About Rare
We've been on the scene under the Rare name for 25 years, and as Ultimate our legacy stretches back further still.
Established in 1985 to focus on the expanding console market, we partnered with Nintendo and sealed a reputation for quality with titles ranging from Donkey Kong Country to GoldenEye.
The acquisition of Rare by Microsoft Game Studios came about in 2002. We went on to support the Xbox 360 debut with two of the three launch games, Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero. Subsequent years saw us innovate with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, the Viva Piñata franchise and our pioneering work on Xbox 360 Avatars.
We continue to target top-tier development at both our custom-built rural HQ and new Birmingham facility. The boundless opportunities afforded by Microsoft’s Kinect are our current source of inspiration.
Our Brand
BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards
2008 NOMINEE:
Strategy, Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise
2007 NOMINEE:
Artistic Achievement, Viva Piñata
Original Score, Viva Piñata
2001 WINNER:
Best Sound, Conker's Bad Fur Day
2000 WINNER:
Moving Images Award, Perfect Dark
NOMINEE:
Moving Images Award, Banjo-Tooie
1999 WINNER:
UK Developer of the Year
1998 WINNER:
UK Developer of the Year
The Games Award, GoldenEye
Develop Industry Excellence Awards
2007 WINNER:
Visual Arts, Viva Piñata
NOMINEE:
New Console/PC IP, Viva Piñata
In-House Developer
2006 NOMINEE:
New Console IP, Kameo: Elements of Power
Art & Sound, Kameo: Elements of Power
Best Use of Online, Perfect Dark Zero
In-House Development Team
Grand Prix Award
2004 NOMINEE:
Art & Sound, Grabbed by the Ghoulies
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
2006 WINNER:
Outstanding Character Performance - Female, Viva Piñata
NOMINEE:
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Viva Piñata
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Viva Piñata
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering, Viva Piñata
Family Game of the Year, Viva Piñata
Console Game of the Year, Viva Piñata
2005 NOMINEE:
Visual Engineering, Kameo: Elements of Power
Original Music Composition, Kameo: Elements of Power
2004 NOMINEE:
Console Family Game of the Year, Grabbed by the Ghoulies
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition, Grabbed by the Ghoulies
2002 NOMINEE:
Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year, Conker's Bad Fur Day
Oustanding Achievement in Character/Story Design, Conker's Bad Fur Day
2001 NOMINEE:
Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year, Banjo-Tooie
Console Game of the Year, Banjo-Tooie
Game of the Year, Banjo-Tooie
Console Family Game of the Year, Donkey Kong Country GBC
2000 NOMINEE:
Console Game of the Year, Donkey Kong 64
Game of the Year, Donkey Kong 64
1999 WINNER:
Console Action Game of the Year, Banjo-Kazooie
Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics, Banjo-Kazooie
NOMINEE:
Console Adventure Game of the Year, Banjo-Kazooie
Game of the Year, Banjo-Kazooie
1998 WINNER:
Console Action Game of the Year, GoldenEye
Console Game of the Year, GoldenEye
Interactive Title of the Year, GoldenEye
Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering,GoldenEye
Console Racing Game of the Year, Diddy Kong Racing
NOMINEE:
Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics, GoldenEye
Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design, GoldenEye
