One of the most sought-after games of the past decade has been a new installment in the Banjo-Kazooie series. Despite Microsoft showing glimpses of recognition for this beloved duo on several occasions (most notably with their cameo in Smash Bros), nothing concrete has materialized. However, in December, Xbox chief Phil Spencer gave fans a glimmer of hope when he exclaimed, “Banjo fans, I hear you.”

The fairly well-known and often reliable insider NateTheHate further fueled anticipation among eager fans last month by stating that a Banjo-Kazooie game had been greenlit by Microsoft back in 2022, although he didn’t disclose which studio was behind its development. However, NateTheHate has now somewhat backtracked from his previous statement, stating on Resetera that the project is still in the works but has undergone reworking and experienced some delays:

“Last I heard it was being reworked from its original vision & scope, so it’s going to be a bit. Honestly, spoke on it too soon.”

It’s doubtful that Rare is involved in this project as they are still occupied with Sea of Thieves – which is soon to be released on Playstation and Switch – and the upcoming Everwild. A reasonable speculation is that Microsoft is collaborating with Playtonic Games, largely composed of the original Banjo-Kazooie developers. They have previously developed two Yooka-Laylee titles, often considered spiritual successors to Banjo-Kazooie. However, suspiciously, they haven’t released any new games since 2019, indicating they might have something in the pipeline.

Source: The Gamer