Warwickshire, UK-based Rare was one of the most successful developers of the 1990s, becoming synonymous with Nintendo for hits such as Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Kazooie and GoldenEye.

However, at Microsoft’s XO event – bizarrely, at Pierre Cardin’s house in Cannes – it was gleefully announced that Rare founders the Stamper Brothers had sold up to the Xbox firm for a whopping fee, and that Nintendo had given up its 49 per cent stake in the company as well.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Rare became a first-party developer for Microsoft's Xbox and 360, continuing hit series such as Banjo-Kazooie. In January last year, Tim and Chris Stamper left Rare to pursue ‘other opportunities’. Wii and 360 owners continue to desperately crave a port of N64’s GoldenEye – without much luck.

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