A rumored in-development Banjo-Kazooie game may have fallen victim to Microsoft’s recently announced restructuring and joined the list of the company’s newly canceled games. While there hasn’t even been official confirmation that another Banjo-Kazooie game was being made, rumors have been swirling for a long time, and they’re now pointing to such a game never getting to see the light of day.
Originating on the N64 back in 1998, the first Banjo-Kazooie game was a hit for Rare and Nintendo that grew into a beloved classic 3D platformer about the titular bear and bird duo trying to save Banjo’s sister Tootie from Gruntilda the Witch. Two sequels followed, as well as two handheld-exclusive games made for the Game Boy Advance, but since the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts for the Xbox 360 in 2008, the series has laid dormant.
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That dormancy appeared like it might be coming to an end in late 2023, when insider NateDrake on ResetEra shared a rumor about an actively developed Banjo-Kazooie project in development. However, that same source is now casting doubt that such a project is still being worked on, stating that a lot of time has passed since he has heard any sort of update on the game’s progress. “I’d assume it was shelved at this stage,” he said in a recent post. “It did exist when we spoke of it a couple of years ago.” That’s disappointing news for fans who were hoping for a revival of the series, especially considering that following the release of the original rumor, CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer indicated that he was aware of fans’ desire for a new Banjo-Kazooie game.
A Rumored Banjo-Kazooie Sequel May Have Been Canceled
NateDrake’s post came at a sensitive time for Microsoft, which acquired Rare in September 2002. The rumor of the cancellation arrived on the same day that Microsoft announced significant layoffs amounting to up to four percent of its workforce, or about 9,000 people. Along with the loss of jobs, Microsoft’s restructuring has resulted in a wave of game cancellation announcements that include Rare’s Everwild and The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics’ reboot of Perfect Dark. Along with Perfect Dark‘s cancellation, The Initiative is being shut down.
The rumored cancellation of the Banjo-Kazooie project hits fans especially hard considering that original Banjo-Kazooie director Gregg Mayles is reportedly leaving Rare after more than 35 years of consecutive service there. Mayles started at the company in 1989 and has had a hand in developing nearly 30 Rare games, including directing Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Multiple anonymous sources claiming to work for Rare have confirmed Mayle’s departure, though he has yet to make a public statement on the matter, and his LinkedIn profile still lists him as working for Rare under the job description “Various design roles.”
