1982 Ashby Computer and Graphics

1982 Ultimate Play the Game

1987 (bought by U.S. Gold)

1987 Rare Ltd

2002 (bought by Microsoft for US$377m)

With the consistent success of Ultimate's releases there were rumours of a buyout by Ocean, until it was announced in 1985 that the Stamper brothers had sold the Ultimate catalogue and name to U.S. Gold, who would continue to develop games under the Ultimate label. Later titles such as Martianoids and Bubbler were not seen by the gaming press as being up to Ultimate's previously high standards and sales fell. U.S. Gold released no new Ultimate games after Bubbler in 1987. A final Sabreman game, Mire Mare, was trailed in earlier Sabreman games and was mentioned by Sinclair User as being next up for release, but was quietly dropped during development. In late 1988 ACG/Rare Ltd. bought back all the rights sold to U.S. Gold and were reported to be developing games again. Future releases were to have included Solar Jetman, which would eventually appear only on the Nintendo Entertainment System, although home computer conversions for the Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, and Atari ST were completed by Storm Software, but not released.

Shortly before the U.S. Gold buyout the name of another company "Rare Ltd." began appearing on the credits of Ultimate releases. This was in fact another company set up by the Stampers to develop for Ultimate, but not be subject to any Ultimate takeover. Rare (initially under the banner Rare: Designs on the Future) would evolve after Ultimate's demise into a prolific developer for the Nintendo Entertainment System. This led Nintendo to purchase a stake in the company, whose success was furthered with such classic SNES and Nintendo 64 releases as Donkey Kong Country and Goldeneye 007.

In 2002 Rare was purchased outright by Microsoft for US$377 million, a record fee for a video game developer, and currently develops games for the Xbox 360 console. At the end of 2006 Tim and Chris Stamper left Rare to "pursue other opportunities", ending a 24 year involvement in developing home video games.

		26 September 2002, 14.05

As well as revealing the details of Xbox Live Microsoft had another big announcement to make at X02. At the end of a very cool looking presentation they told a big group of journalists from all over Europe that they had bought one of the top games development companies, Rare. Rare games now exclusive to Xbox The company that made games like Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64 and GoldenEye 007 will now be making them only for the Xbox.

In the past Rare have been working only Nintendo consoles but now they've switched sides in big deal worth $375m. Since being founded in 1985 Rare have sold more than 90 million games all over the world. Rare are expected to make five games for the Xbox over the next two years, with the first - Kameo - arriving in Spring 2003 and a sequel to Perfect Dark also on the way.

In 2004, Rare revived Ultimate's Sabreman franchise with the release of Sabre Wulf for the Game Boy Advance. A new version of Sabre Wulf for the Xbox was also rumoured, though it was never released or even officially announced. In 2007 Rare released the fourth game of the Jetman series Jetpac Refuelled for Xbox Live Arcade. They have been rumoured for several years to be developing a racing game based on the Ultimate/Rare universe titled Sabreman Stampede.

On 8 December 2006 and 16 January 2007 respectively, Rare's owners Microsoft Corporation filed US and EU trademark claims on the Ultimate Play The Game name and logo. The registered purpose is "entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game".

Rare Founders Leave to 'Pursue Other Opportunities' Chris and Tim Stamper left the company at the end of 2006. By Luke Smith, 01/02/2007

Chris and Tim Stamper, two of Rare Ltd.'s (Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark and Viva Pinata) three founders have left the studio. While the news surfaces in the wake of disappointing sales figures for Rare's excellent Viva Pinata, Microsoft told 1UP that sluggish Pinata sales had "absolutely" nothing to do with their departure. "Chris and Tim have helped shape Rare into the world-renowned development studio that is it today and their impact on the videogame industry as a whole is well known. They are simply leaving to pursue other opportunities and we wish them luck in their future endeavors." The Stampers' exodus comes just four years after Microsoft acquired Rare from Nintendo for $375M. Since that acquisition, Rare has published five games for Microsoft Game Studios. In addition to Pinata, the Rare released Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero at the Xbox 360's launch and shipped Conker: Live & Reloaded and Grabbed By the Ghoulies on the original Xbox. While it seems unlikely that Microsoft has recouped their original investment in Rare, the company maintains that the studio is "the cornerstone of Microsoft Game Studios' broadening strategy." Microsoft told 1UP that Mark Betteridge, a 19-year-veteran of the Rare team, and Gregg Mayles will succeed the Stampers as Studio Director and Creative Director, respectively.