Louise O’Connor, a veteran developer best known as the Executive Producer of Everwild, has stepped into a major new position as Chief of Staff at Xbox Game Studios. 
This move marks a significant milestone not only for O’Connor’s career but also for Xbox’s leadership team at a time of major change across Microsoft’s gaming division.
O’Connor has been part of Rare for over a quarter of a century, beginning her career with the studio during the Nintendo 64 era. Her first credits appeared in the cult classic Conker: Bad Fur Day in 2001, and from there she became a key contributor to some of Rare’s most beloved and experimental titles. From Kameo: Elements of Power and the Viva Piñata series to Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and multiple Kinect Sports projects, O’Connor’s creative influence helped shape Rare’s eclectic identity long before Microsoft acquired the studio. She became a recognizable figure within the developer, often bridging the gap between creative teams and the larger strategic goals of Xbox.
Everwild, however, was a project that never made it to shelves despite years of anticipation. Announced with much fanfare at the X019 event in 2019, the game’s ethereal art style and cryptic trailers intrigued fans but also fueled confusion. Even by 2020, Rare admitted its gameplay vision was still being explored. Reports of a full reboot in 2021 raised questions about direction and internal struggles. For a brief moment, hope returned when Phil Spencer himself mentioned seeing promising progress in early 2024. Yet those hopes were dashed earlier this year when Microsoft confirmed the project’s cancellation, aligning with sweeping layoffs across Xbox and other company divisions.
The timing couldn’t have been more bittersweet: Rare is celebrating its 40th anniversary, a milestone that was meant to showcase its future vision but instead became overshadowed by the loss of its intended flagship title. Still, O’Connor’s transition ensures her experience won’t be lost. In her new Chief of Staff role, she is expected to work closely again with Craig Duncan – Rare’s longtime studio head who, since October 2024, now leads Xbox Game Studios as a whole. The duo, already tested by the turbulent journey of Everwild, will likely bring lessons learned into shaping Xbox’s broader creative future.
As fans debate what went wrong with Everwild, there’s no denying O’Connor’s career represents both the creative highs of Rare’s history and the resilience required in modern AAA game development. Whether her new role leads to smoother projects and clearer visions for Xbox’s many studios remains to be seen, but her appointment signals Microsoft’s intention to keep veteran talent at the heart of its leadership.
2 comments
maybe with her at Xbox Studios we’ll finally get more clarity and less smoke n mirrors
Rare turning 40 and canceling their big project is wild timing