Legendary developer Rare has revealed a new sustainable game development space, using the fact that today is Earth Day to unveil it for the first time.
The state of the art Barn was actually commissioned back in 2020, and is built on Rare’s existing campus, based outside the village of Twycross here in the UK.
The 1200 metre squared space certainly looks all kinds of inviting, with natural materials and an open plan design, meaning plenty of ventilation and natural light. Per Rare Studio head, Craig Duncan:
“Games design is that magical mix of technology, creativity, teamwork and artwork, so all of those things informed how we designed the space. We needed lots of room where teams can work together closely, but we also need quiet spaces and places with sound deadening. The building feels energising, creative and refreshing. It has a really nice vibe.”
Sustainability at it’s heart
Barn X’s runs purely on electricity, with the assistance of 750 Square metres of solar panels nearby and is Microsoft’s first “mass timber” building in Europe. The inner timber structure was locally sourced, with the exterior cladding made from New Zealand Accoya, designed to last for at least 60 years without the need for varnish or treatment.
All of this effort supports Microsoft’s desire to be a carbon negative company by 2030, with Rare Studio Head Craig Duncan saying that “It’s something our team really cares about. It’s important for them to work in an environment that has sustainability at its core, and to know that they work for a company on a sustainability journey.”
Looks like a bloody lovely place to work, and perhaps will get the team working on Everwild to really channel those lovely natural vibes.
