Spencer: I don’t want the Rare brand to mean Kinect Sports

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has once again reiterated Microsoft’s desire to ensure that Rare isn’t left languishing in a post-Kinect haze.

Having made its names with a string of hit titles during Nintendo’s console heyday, in recent times the now Microsoft owned studio has effectively been tasked with stewarding the Kinect Sports IP.

And with Kinect now ditched from most Xbox One bundles and completely absent from Microsoft’s Gamescom press conference, that leaves Rare in a tough position.

"Right now with Rare we’re at a point where I don’t want the Rare brand to mean Kinect Sports," Spencer told CVG. "The Rare brand can be more valuable to them, to us and to gamers than that.

"I think it’s about them thinking about the next game that’s going to be the next ‘Rare game’ and really stand for what they are. I know they’ve got some great ideas.

I’ve not been up to Twycross for maybe six months, but I’m planning on getting up there this fall and seeing bits for the new game. But I know they’re hard at work and Phil Harrison has been up talking to them.

"So they’ve got some new ideas, they’re excited about them and I think Rare should, can and will be an important part of our game future."

In May Spencer said that Rare was in the process of deciding upon its next project.