Rare was originally established as Ultimate Play the Game in 1982.
Rare (first era)[]
1985–1991[]
Designer:
Tim Stamper
Typography:
Custom
Launched:
1985
1990–1994[]
Designer:
Tim Stamper
Typography:
Custom Microgramma
Launched:
1990
Rareware[]
1994–2003[]
SVG NEEDED
Designer:
Kevin Bayliss
Typography:
Custom Helvetica
Launched:
November 1994
In 1994, Rare was renamed as Rareware, its most recognized name during the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64 era altough the previous name continued to be used for corporate purposes. The iconic golden "R" inside the golden border with blue background debuted in Donkey Kong Country and last appeared in early prototype versions of the cancelled GBA video game Diddy Kong Pilot (which was later revived and became Banjo-Pilot).
Rare (second era)[]
2003–2010[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Arial
Launched:
Unknown
Following the 2002 acquisition by Microsoft and being put under the Microsoft Game Studios organization, in 2003, the company returned to its previous name and changed their logo removing the golden border and the blue background.
2010–2015[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
ITC Avant Garde
Launched:
Unknown
In 2010, Rare replaced its previous typeface with a simple gray wordmark. The "R" symbol is now inside of a green hexagon located at the upper corner (the design of this one varied in different shapes and colors). This logo was made to make Rare more "Kinect-friendly", since Xbox was focusing more on the Kinect. This logo is rather controversial to Rare fans as they claim that this logo took away any charm that they had.
2015–present[]
On June 15, 2015, during the announcement for Rare Replay at Microsoft's conference at E3 2015, Rare unveiled a new logo. The new logo revives the classic golden "R" and takes elements from the 1994 logo (like the blue background, but now it is behind the "R" rather than around it, and it is a bit more of a gradient).
Notes: 1 Became independent from 2007–2022, later becoming a Sony Interactive Entertainment subsidiary in 2022 2 Were moved to work on other Microsoft Software departments 3 consolidated 4 Sold to Take-Two Interactive, later being defunct
