After ex-Microsoft exec described as lacking relevance in the modern games market, Game Studios boss Phil Spencer has leapt to the developer's defence.

"Rare is a great studio that continuously delivers high-quality, award-winning titles for the platform and will continue to do so in the future," Spencer offered to GI.biz.

"Rare plays a strategic role in delivering games and platform experiences that will help the Xbox achieve our long-term of expanding the customer base to a mainstream audience. "The studio’s current work that includes the recent release of another critically acclaimed installment in the Viva Piñata series, the reinvention of a genre and a franchise with the November release of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts as well as the Avatar system they’re delivering as part of the new Xbox experience not only is indicative of the value they deliver to our business but proof positive to our partners and the at large of our commitment to this strategy and the platform’s continued success."

By Luke Guttridge