Banjo-Kazooie just lately turned 25, and whereas many gamers really feel a pang of nostalgia for the sequence, its authentic creators aren’t “satisfied the viewers is there” for a brand new recreation.
Numerous builders that created the unique Banjo-Kazooie recreation have spoken about its improvement and why Xbox most likely will not be making Banjo-Kazooie 3 or reviving the franchise.
Banjo-Kazooie most likely will not make a return
In celebration of Banjo-Kazooie’s twenty fifth anniversary, VGC spoke with a number of of the sport’s authentic creators: Lead programmer Chris Sutherland, composer Grant Kirkhope, and character designer Steven Mayles. Whereas the trio shared their amazement that followers proceed to like the franchise that started in 1998 on the Nintendo 64, additionally they stated that it is unlikely that the franchise will return, although “each 5 years individuals nonetheless wish to discuss it.”
Apparently the builders do not feel like the unique circumstances for the sport’s improvement may very well be replicated now. “We have been all mates: we went out collectively, we drank collectively, we did every part collectively,” Kirkhope stated. “So I really feel like all that humor within the recreation that everybody talks about, that’s simply us piss-taking every day up and down the hall.”
Mayles stated that the fixed checks and approvals which can be wanted for contemporary recreation improvement would make it troublesome for Banjo-Kazooie to be made right this moment. “It was, ‘right here’s a couple of traces describing a personality’ and possibly a humorous image Gregg [Mayles] had drawn, and also you have been off. I don’t assume that will work now on triple-A tasks, if Banjo-Kazooie was remade, as a result of issues take a lot longer to make. However in these days that was an enormous a part of it for positive.”
When requested in regards to the potential for a remake, Mayles stated, “I can’t actually converse for Gregg, however he’s actually the custodian of the franchise. He doesn’t actually prefer to look again and tread over outdated floor, so I don’t assume he’s ever been bothered about doing anything with the franchise. He’d reasonably transfer on to new experiences — so far as he’s involved, he’s been there, executed that.”
Equally to Mayles, Kirkhope additionally looks like Banjo 3 will not be occurring. “I really feel such as you’d need to get a staff with the humor that we had again then and that’s arduous to copy,” he stated. “I feel Uncommon can be open to anyone in the event that they discovered the suitable staff, however I don’t really feel like that staff exists. Additionally, I’m not satisfied the viewers is there both.” Sutherland, nevertheless, appears to be a bit extra optimistic: “I might hope that anyone goes to carry out one thing… some type of sequel or ‘subsequent in line’ recreation. A minimum of earlier than a degree the place I can nonetheless do not forget that the primary one existed! However hopefully sooner.”
If this story has given you a nostalgia hit, and also you’d you wish to be a part of Banjo on an journey now, the Banjo-Kazooie sequence is out there in Uncommon Replay alongside a few of the finest video games on Recreation Move.