The previous few days haven’t been good for the Xbox model as Microsoft went on one other rampage, jettisoning 1000’s extra workers. Xbox was hit laborious, leading to not less than one studio closing, a number of extra on the verge of shutting and quite a few cancelled video games. However out of the darkness comes a glimmer of one thing hopeful: Banjo-Kazooie.
The Banjo Kazooie IP has been dormant for a lot of, a few years at this level. Creator Gregg Mayels has been clear that he isn’t desirous about doing something with it, and Xbox doesn’t appear to have been , both.
Talking on the most recent episode of the VGC podcast, Andy Robinson stated as a lot: “The speak for ages was that, you understand, there’s all the time exterior pursuits in Banjo however they’re not . I imply, Gregg (Mayels) is somebody who doesn’t look again, notoriously, he stated this on the report, that he likes to do new stuff. The angle from the studio management, “no no no, we’re gonna do the brand new factor.””
Nevertheless, in keeping with Robinson, attitudes have modified considerably at Xbox: “I heard extra just lately the pitches are being listened to.”
Robinson goes on to say that Toys For Bob appears particularly eager on doing one thing with Banjo-Kazooie. Toys for Bob cut up away from Microsoft final 12 months, however has additionally publically confirmed that it’s engaged on a sport along side Microsoft and Xbox. There have been rumours that Toys for Bob could also be engaged on a Spyro the Dragon sport, and at one level it appeared just like the firm itself was teasing precisely that.
“Humorous sufficient, I heard Moon Studios as nicely was one other one who’s actually ,” continued Robinson. Moon Studio is finest know for its two Ori video games.
Robinson additionally stated that there’s all the time speak of a film or cartoon based mostly on Banjo Kazooie as nicely.
I’d like to see Banjo Kazooie come again, however given what we’ve seen of Microsoft currently it is going to be introduced tomorrow, disappear for a few years, reappear wanting robust after which get cancelled 5 years from now, six months earlier than it was apparently as a consequence of launch.
With that stated, Xbox going multiplatform presents a reasonably good time to carry Banjo-Kazooie again because it may do very nicely on Nintendo’s {hardware}.
