Music4games.net reports that Grant Kirkhope, a long-time composer at Rare, has left the Microsoft-owned studio to become audio director at Big Huge Games.
In his thirteen years at the company, Kirkhope composed music for games such as Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark and Viva Pinata. He has most recently been working on Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and the new Banjo Kazooie game for Xbox 360.
In a message to fans, he wrote: "I have to tell you all that I’ve resigned from Rare. Needless to say my time at Rare has been the most amazing and rewarding experience imaginable and I’m going to miss not being there. I wish the company and people there all the luck in the world!"