In 2002, Microsoft bought Rare. Things could have gone very differently, though: Ed Fries, formerly of Xbox, has told IGN that Activision actually outbid Microsoft for the British studio, and it was only a larger offer “at the very last minute” from Xbox’s Robbie Bach that sealed the deal.
DISCUSSION
Honestly, Activision would have ran Banjo Kazooie into the ground way worse than Microsoft did. It’d probably be worse than Sonic’s current situation. So this is good news in my opinion. (though the Activision remake of Goldeneye would have been better if Rare was developing it)