Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope says he’s feeling more optimistic about the chances of a series revival and revealed that at least three studios have pitched a new game to Microsoft.
Like other core team members behind the original Nintendo 64 Banjo-Kazooie games, Kirkhope has previously cast doubt on the chances of the series coming back, even after the characters’ popular appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
However, speaking to FRVR this week, Kirkhope said he felt more optimistic following a change in leadership at developer Rare.
“I used to always say there’s zero chance of another Banjo Kazooie game and right now I feel there’s a slight chance,” the composer said. “So, [I’ve] gone from ‘no way’ to ‘that’s as far as I’m going to get with it.”
Kirkhope went on to claim that at least three external developers have “actually, physically pitched to Microsoft or Rare” about making a new Banjo-Kazooie game, although he said he’s not sure if any were successful.
The composer didn’t name the interested studios, although one is understood to be Toys for Bob, the Crash and Spyro studio that has been very vocal about its passion for the Banjo-Kazooie series.
Another developer said to be interested is Ori developer Moon Studios. Notably, one of the developer’s designers recently published an impressive-looking Banjo-Kazooie fan game in PlayStation’s Dreams.
According to Kirkhope, the future of the Banjo-Kazooie series is likely to fall outside of Rare’s walls, because the Sea of Thieves studio is “too busy” with Sea of Thieves and other projects. He suggested that Rare might be more open to outsourcing the series than it previously has been due to a change of leadership at the studio.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/three-studios-have-pitched-new-banjo-kazooie-games-to-microsoft-says-composer/
