Banjo-Kazooie rightfully earned its place as one of the best games on the Nintendo 64 and one of the top 3D platformers. Its sequel only solidified its presence. However, the split between Rare and Nintendo, along with the tumultuous period under Microsofts management, impacted the IP, leaving it in silence. Today, it seems that conditions are right for a comeback, but will it really happen? Phil Spencer spoke on the matter.
Phil Spencer explains what it takes for an old franchise to return on Xbox
During an interview with Jez Corden, a journalist from Windows Central, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, addressed Banjo-Kazooie and its potential return. In response to a question about the work already done on franchises like Age of Empires and Killer Instinct, he stated: "We think about Age of Empires, were in the 10th-anniversary edition of Killer Instinct, which is another good example. There has to be passion in the team behind those projects. That doesnt mean the team has to be the original team, always. Im not one of them, and maybe this is just my approach; Im not one to come and take a franchise from a team and remove it from the discussion or the development process of how something new is built."
Will Banjo-Kazooie return someday?
According to Phil Spencer, the possibilities of a franchises return are linked to the conditions for that to happen, but its also essential that there is a team genuinely interested in it, not just thinking about giving an IP a new release after many years.
As for Banjo-Kazooie, the good news is that Phil Spencer and Xbox are well aware of the fans desires. However, the bad news is that, apparently, they havent found a team with the passion to create a new installment: "I think the original creators, the culture, frankly, some of the lessons weve learned from past experiences here are very important. Youve seen in our history that we havent touched all the franchises that people would love for us to touch, Banjo fans, I hear you. But its true that when we find the right team and the right opportunity, I love going back to stories and characters weve seen before."
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