I think That Microsoft just purchased RARE, to ensure the company won't be developing for nintendo anymore. Apparently nintendo had nothing more to take out of rare cause they owned 49% of rare and they sold it to Microsoft without any remorse. I also think that Microsoft wanted Rare to be the key answer to Nintendo quality software lineup (other then shooters, that are developed by anyone these days) and SCE platformers (developed by insomniac and naugthy dog).

The facts are thatthey paid 375 millions to kill the company ensuring that all the talented programmers and designers would run in fright knowing that they aspire to more then replicate wii sports in a 360 twist of the genre (literally).

Sadly, I do hope that we'll see one of the true rare game franchise ressurfacing in a couple of years, But rare has become a name, the name of one microsoft games studios like any other, minus all the original creators of the brand. So even if Banjo 3 or conker3 arecreated without the original music composer, game designer, characters designers etc..... Do you think the game could retain the originals spirit.

To conclude GreggMayles one ofRARE leader stated:"our aim is to take the 3D platform adventuring game into the next generation and do something more than just adding polygons. Some fans look back fondly and want more of the same, but the Banjo of yesteryear has no real place in tomorrow's market on the Xbox 360. What we want to do is retain all the elements that made the first two games so loved, but also try things that breathe new life into a genre that has sadly been neglected for many years " He said this when theBanjo ultimately "spin-off" was anounced, By looking at the sales of games like New super mario bros wii and the praise that fans of the genre puts in sequels of they're favorite games someone is probably biting his nails nowadays.