Rare 40th anniversary merch is a depressing reminder of how far they've fallen
Given how often game studios get shut down nowadays, it's almost a miracle for one to successfully stay open for 40 years. Case in point: Sea Of Thieves developer Rare.
Although there's no exact date for its founding, Rare has chosen today to celebrate its ruby anniversary, complete with an unveiling of a heritage plaque in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, the English hometown of Rare's predecessor Ultimate Play the Game.
The studio has announced a handful of ways for fans to partake in the celebrations, including a fancy new Xbox controller that's available for purchase alongside a range of other merchandise.
The new controller, courtesy of 8bitdo, sports the same blue and gold colouring as Rare's logo. While its pattern appears to only reference Sea Of Thieves, you can spot puzzle pieces and feathers on the controller too, alluding to the old Banjo-Kazooie platformers.
You can buy the controller from 8bitdo's website, which does ship to the UK, although it will set you back $89.99, which is roughly £68, and that's not including any potential shipping costs.
Rare has also partnered with Fangamer on a new range of merchandise, and the Xbox Wire news post mentions plans for a 40th anniversary vinyl collection from iam8bit and an Evercade cartridge collection of 12 retro Rare games.
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Some themed cosmetics are coming to Sea Of Thieves as well, alongside the game's next season, Smugglers' Tide, which begins on August 14.
This includes a 40th anniversary bundle and multiple ruby themed items (including a hat and an eyepatch). Plus, starting from August 6, the in-game store will see discounts on items inspired by old Rare games while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to claim an exclusive emote.
Lastly, a celebratory piece of art featuring multiple Rare characters is available as an Xbox dynamic background alongside new profile pics for your account.
40 years of @RareLtd.From devoted Rare gamers to single-series stalwarts, we want to show our appreciation for anyone who's visited even just one of our worlds. For keeping an assorted ragtag of creatives working magic in the Midlands, only two words will do: THANK YOU 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/Z33HzSFBH9 — Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) August 4, 2025
Such celebrations ring a tad hollow though, considering this comes just one month after Microsoft saw fit to let go hundreds of Xbox employees and cancel several projects.
Rare itself wasn't untouched by this, with its next game – Everwild – amongst those cancelled. A new Banjo-Kazooie was also rumoured to be in the works, but that's apparently been canned too. More Trending
And while he wasn't laid off, Everwild and Sea Of Thieves director Gregg Mayles, one of Rare's longest running staff members, opted to leave the studio at that exact moment, missing out on the 40th anniversary.
Even the new art is depressing to look at, since the majority of the characters featured haven't had a new game in years and likely never will.
Seeing Perfect Dark protagonist Joanna Dark especially hurts since a Perfect Dark reboot was in the works at another studio, The Initiative, but that studio was completely shut down as part of the layoffs, with the reboot dying with it.
With Everwild's cancellation, Rare doesn't have any new games on its schedule. So, unless it or Microsoft announce otherwise, the studio is currently committed to updating Sea Of Thieves and nothing else.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: Xbox bosses loved a game so much they canned it and sacked all the developers
MORE: Xbox games for Switch 2 'expected' soon ahead of rumoured Nintendo Direct
MORE: Xbox console sales are even worse than thought according to latest estimates
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
5 hours ago
- Scotsman
Dandadan season 2: what time is Dan Da Dan episode 6 out?
Netflix and Crunchyroll will both be releasing new episodes of Dandadan season 2 👽👻 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dan Da Dan will continue on Netflix this week. The season two release schedule has been confirmed - and includes Crunchyroll. But when exactly can you tune in for the next episode? Calling all ghouls and aliens, the latest season of Dan Da Dan will continue this week. A brand new episode is set to arrive on streaming shortly. Netflix and Crunchyroll have both been sharing the coverage of the show once again in 2025. The first season was a huge hit after it premiered in late 2024 and the wait for new episodes was agonising for fans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier in the summer, the first three episodes of Dan Da Dan season two were bundled together into the feature length special: Evil Eye. It released in cinemas and let eager viewers get ahead, but the action has now caught up and the weekly wait goes on. What time is Dandadan episode 6 out? Dan Da Dan season 2 starts July 3 | Crunchyroll The latest chapter in the adventure of Okarun and Momo is set to arrive on August 7 - with the season releasing weekly on Thursdays. Dan Da Dan's second series will have 12 episodes in total. Fans can expect new episodes to run through to late September - baring any changes to the schedule. So the season finale will arrive just as the leaves are starting to change and Halloween will be just on the horizon. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The blockbuster anime is dropping episodes on both Netflix and Crunchyroll at the exact same time - which was also the case for the first season in 2024. Viewers will want to make sure they are aware of when the episodes will actually arrive, so they can be ready to tune in. Dan Da Dan season two episode five is due to land on streaming platforms, including Netflix, at 5pm BST for UK audiences - Noon ET/ 9am PT for viewers in America. Who is in the cast of Dan Da Dan season 2? Momo Ayase - Shion Wakayama (Japanese), Abby Trott (English) Ken Takakura (Okarun) - Natsuki Hanae (Japanese), A.J. Beckles (English) Seiko Ayase - Nana Mizuki (Japanese), Kari Wahlgren (English) Aira Shiratori - Ayane Sakura (Japanese), Lisa Reimold (English) Jin Enjoji - Kaito Ishikawa (Japanese), Aleks Le (English) Turbo Granny - Mayumi Tanaka (Japanese), Barbara Goodson (English) The cast features plenty of familiar voices, Shion Wakayama is Yunli in Honkai: Star Rail as well as Ellen Joe in Zenless Zone Zero. Natsuki Hanae is the Japanese voice of Tanjiro in Demon Slayer. He has also had roles in Tokyo Ghoul, Food Wars, Haikyu!! and more. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Abby Trott is the voice of Nezuko in the English dub of Demon Slayer - so a few links to the famous anime in this show. She is also Shizuka Mikazuki in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
We live in UK's ‘most beautiful village' ruined by tourists filming us through our WINDOWS & flying drones over gardens
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOCALS in a picturesque village say their town is being ruined by tourists who knock on their doors and take snaps of them inside their homes. Castle Combe in Wiltshire has been used as a backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters such as Stardust and Steven Spielberg's War Horse and is a delightful day trip for sightseers. 5 Castle Combe in Wiltshire has become a hub for tourists from around the world Credit: Alamy 5 Locals have fumed that the chocolate box village has turned into the 'set of Disneyland' Credit: Alamy 5 A picturesque view of cottages with Cotswold stone walls in Castle Combe Credit: Getty Set within the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is routinely named as one of the prettiest villages in the country. Country Living listed the English village as one of the most picturesque places to visit in the country, writing: "This quintessentially English village is known as the 'prettiest village in England'. But residents in Castle Combe in the Cotswolds say their patience is running thin as visitors from around the world continue to disturb their peace. Around 400 people call the chocolate box village home, while 150,000 tourists pack into the idyllic area annually. Speaking to the Express, Hilary Baker, 69, a former police officer and bed and breakfast owner, urged visitors: "Give us a little bit of consideration." She added that drones have even been flown over the village, "filming children", but pointed out that this has been less of an issue recently. Ms Baker said: "That's what caused everybody to go, 'This is now beyond reasonable.' "Because our children are precious, you don't know who's on the other end of the camera. "I'm not casting aspersions, but you just don't know anymore. "It's out there in the ether before you can blink an eye." Our posh village is now ghost town strewn with empty homes Local Hilary, who has lived in the village for nearly four decades, was equally condemning of the behaviour of some visitors. She fumed: "If only they would stop and think, 'How would I feel sat in my garden minding own business with a drone flying 20 feet above my head?' "It could be four or five. I don't think they would cope with it either." "I was walking the dog and talking to one of my neighbours, when I saw this lady looking through my letterbox. "I said, 'Are looking for somebody? Can I help you?' They said, 'I'm just looking.' "I replied, 'People live here.' They said, 'Oh, do they?'" Another problem, the resident noted, is younger people using "suction cups" to attach their phones to his windows in order for them to take a photo of themselves. "They think it's part of the set of Disneyland," one anonymous local seethed. Jean Boucher, 86, a retired teacher, says she does not have much trouble with visitors, as her house is raised above the main street. But she added: "The whole world is full of tourists being a nuisance. "There are more people travelling, I suppose, and people are obsessed with photographing everything now." The Sun Online has reached out to Wiltshire Council for comment. 5 A woman poses for a photo in the village Credit: Alamy
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Why Vietnam is becoming more appealing to older travellers
'Hi, please can I have a conversation with you?' asks a 12-year-old Vietnamese boy named Peter, along with his younger brother Ethan, as I squeeze my way through a dense crowd of people in Hội An, the charming, well-preserved ancient town in central Vietnam. The pair started learning how to speak English six months ago and were keen to practise with foreign travellers seeking a combination of comfort, culture and adventure. Before we are interrupted by the pervasive motorcycle culture – forcing both locals and tourists to be street smart – Peter and I exchange a few basic questions and answers in English, as his father beams with pride from across the street. As I pass market stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, electric fans, phone accessories, lanterns, knock-off designer clothes and bags, and painted coconut shells, I make the mistake of catching the eye of a business-savvy Vietnamese woman who lures me over and asks me if I want to buy any of the jewellery and trinkets she has made. Hội An is also renowned for its tailoring industry, offering a wide range of custom-made clothing at affordable prices. Yaly Couture was founded by 51-year-old Quynh Trinh, and has since become the place where locals and tourists visit to get their bespoke tailoring done quickly – sometimes as little as three hours thanks to her 486 members of staff – and at traditional value. Celebrity fans apparently include TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, 65 – who Trinh says 'ran laps around her shop' due to his excitement – and musician Mick Jagger, 82. I decide to have a Vietnamese -inspired navy blue linen two-piece sleeveless top and trouser set made, and Trinh gifts me with a bronze half-neck keyhole maxi dress inspired by one I found on TikTok. I'm assigned to one of her members of staff, who takes all of my measurements, helps me pick out appropriate material, arranges a fitting and makes both of my designs in less than 24 hours. There is still so much to do in Hội An. So to better understand the original ways of Vietnamese tribal culture, I am also transported to their enchanting world at Hội An Lune Center for the Performing Arts with a production of Teh Dar – one of the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus performances of Lune Production. During the performance, guests hear songs that have been sung deep in the forests and whispered around tribal flames for generations. It's also a great opportunity to hear how a buffalo horn sounds with other percussion instruments. Later, after a boat ride down the river, illuminated at night by hundreds of floating lanterns, I have a heartwarming five-course meal – which is gluten-free friendly – at the newly opened La Table Hội An restaurant, where French culinary tradition meets the soul of Vietnam. On my evening stroll, I'm also able to admire the unique architectural structure of the infamous Japanese Bridge, and understand the influence it has on the bridge that also features at Banyan Tree Lăng Cô. Over many years, Vietnam has built a strong reputation for being a backpacker's dream destination. But whilst spending time in Hội An, and at Angsana Lăng Cô and Banyan Tree Lăng Cô, both part of the Laguna Lăng Cô integrated resort, I'm certain it has more to offer. The resorts feature the 18-hole Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, designed by the legendary Sir Nick Faldo, and offers convenient access to all shared facilities and centralised services, including Terra Kids Club and Laguna Water Sports Centre. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô is dedicated to quiet luxury and creating intimate and romantic experiences for couples, and Angsana Lăng Cô is a 220-room safe haven for all of the family to enjoy. The first night at Angsana Lăng Cô set the tone of my time in Vietnam. I'm welcomed with a BBQ dinner party on the private beach – there is no private beach in Vietnam, but it's private at the resort – where all the seafood is sourced directly from the local Cù Dù fishing village, also known as Cua Van in Ha Long Bay. Cù Dù is a unique floating village where residents live in traditional houses on boats and rafts, making a living from fishing and aquaculture. I'm offered a glimpse into the local culture and the stunning natural beauty of the bay, whilst eating everything from lobster, oysters – which were cooked because of pesticides – squid, fish, and papaya salad with shrimp, just to name a few dishes. During a tour of both resorts, it is easy to see how much of the architecture is inspired by local culture. At Angsana Lăng Cô, I stay in the beach suite, which feels like a home away from home. There's a living room and dining area, and access to a private pool with timber deck sun loungers, a kitchenette and a separate bedroom. Every half an hour, from 8am, a Vietnamese-inspired boat takes you on a 10-minute journey down a fairy garden to Banyan Tree Lăng Cô. And at the entrance, there is a traditional cong used to welcome me and other guests. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô – where I end my stay – is where I experience the serenity of the beach pool villa – only a few minutes from the private beach. I have my own private infinity pool with a heated jacuzzi, a timber sun deck and a poolside sala pavilion, so I can truly relax. Indoors, in both rooms, there's a king-sized bed, bath and shower and other modern amenities. Vietnam has changed a lot over the last 10 years, both politically and economically. The commitment the country has to preserve its natural beauty is why older travellers deserve to experience it too, not just student backpackers. 7 nights staying at 5* Banyan Tree Lang Co, with flights and private transfers, from London Heathrow for 2 people is from £1,649. Beach suites at Angsana Lăng Cô are from £194, and beach pool villas at Banyan Tree Lăng Cô are from £497, based on two people sharing, inclusive of breakfast, taxes and fees.
