Grant Kirkhope, the composer behind the original Banjo-Kazooie games, believes that while pitching a new entry in the classic series remains difficult, a third installment might now have a slight chance of happening.
It has been nearly thirty years since the original platformer debuted on the Nintendo 64, and nearly two decades since the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts on the Xbox 360. Despite the long hiatus, fans and creators alike continue to hold out hope for a revival.
In a recent interview with FRVR, Kirkhope explained that he previously viewed the odds of another game as nonexistent. However, he now considers it slightly more plausible due to recent management shifts at developer Rare. With former studio chief Craig Duncan moving to a broader executive position at Xbox Game Studios, Kirkhope suggested the studio might be more open-minded toward external proposals.
Historically, Rare maintained a reputation for turning down almost every external idea, including cartoon adaptations and game concepts. According to Kirkhope, at least three different development studios have actively pitched Banjo-Kazooie revival concepts to Microsoft or Rare in recent times, though all of those proposals were ultimately rejected.
Because Rare lacks the capacity to build a brand-new platforming adventure internally, an outside team would be required to spearhead the project. Kirkhope noted that Xbox's current strategy of leaning into recognized intellectual property could work in the franchise's favor, adding that he would gladly compose the soundtrack if a new game ever moves forward.
Among external studios, interest in the property has already surfaced. Paul Yan, co-head of Toys for Bob—the studio responsible for recent Crash Bandicoot and Spyro releases—previously hinted in an interview with Canadian Guy Eh that his team would be eager to tackle the beloved series if given the opportunity.
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