The Banjo-Threeie Dreams Shattered
The dreams of Banjo-Kazooie fans for a new game in the series have been dashed following comments from former Rare developers. During Xbox's Summer Showcase, fans were left disappointed as there was no announcement of a new game. Many were hoping that Rare would at least celebrate the 25-year-old series with a retrospective or HD collection.
Multiple former Rare developers, including lead programmer Chris Sutherland, character designer Steven Mayles, and composer Grant Kirkhope, spoke to GamesRadar about Banjo-Threeie and whether it will ever happen. While they all express a desire for a new game in the series, they outline major concerns.
Concerns and Skepticism
Mayles reveals that Rare's creative director, Gregg Mayles, prefers to explore new experiences rather than revisit old ground. He states, "I think he would consider it [Banjo-Threeie], but I think he would prefer to do something else." Kirkhope expresses skepticism about a third entry, citing the difficulty of replicating the humor that made the series successful.
"I don't think the world needs a third Banjo-Kazooie," Kirkhope says. "I don't think it's possible to replicate the humor of the first two, and that's half the reason to play it. But, yeah, I'd love one." Mayles and Kirkhope both question the availability of the right team to develop a new Banjo-Kazooie game and whether the audience is still there.
Hope for the Future
Sutherland, the most positive of the group, hopes that someone will bring out a sequel or a game that continues the series. Kirkhope, who composed the music for all three Banjo-Kazooie games, says that he would be the most likely candidate to return for a new game.
"I'd love to do another Banjo game," Kirkhope says. "I'd love to come back and do the music again, but I'm not sure that's what people want."
It's worth noting that Banjo and Kazooie have made notable appearances on Nintendo platforms, such as through the Smash Ultimate DLC and the Nintendo Switch Online library. While a full Banjo-Kazooie sequel has yet to materialize, it's clear that the characters still have a life beyond Xbox.
