Summary
The discussion surrounding if or when we might get something new fromBanjo-Kazooiehas resurfaced following the addition of Banjo-Tooie to Nintendo Switch Online’s N64 library last week. That includes an unearthed quote from Xbox’s Aaron Greenberg claiming the exec said “nobody cares” about the series behind closed doors. Greenberg has since responded to that quote, confirming he said it but clarifying the context.
I’ve seen two reactions to the Greenberg quote since it started doing the rounds online. One from people who aren’t fans of Banjo agreeing with it, and almost everyone else concluding that Greenberg likely didn’t mean it in the way the quote has been framed. The Xbox VP has replied to someone suggesting exactly that, confirming that the comment he made about no one liking Banjo-Kazooie was indeed a sarcastic one.
I absolutely know how much Banjo-Kazooie means to our fans and gamers everywhere. It holds a special place in my heart, growing up playing these classic games.
Not only did Greenberg note that his Banjo comment was sarcasm, but he himself is a big fan of the series. What hasn’t been cleared up is whether this means there will be more Banjo anytime soon. It has been 16 years since the last Banjo-Kazooie game and beyond Nintendo making the original games available through its Expansion Pass - andadding the lead characters to Super Smash Ultimate- there has been no mention of what’s next, if anything, for the series.
No, Aaron Greenberg Doesn’t Hate Banjo-Kazooie
There’s Life In The Old Bear And Bird Yet
Rare owns the rights to Banjo-Kazooie, and Xbox owns Rare, hence Greenberg’s comments about no one caring receiving quite a bit of attention over the weekend. The clarification from Greenberg that his comments weren’t serious, and that he, someone who has a lot of sway when it comes to what Xbox does next, is a fan of the series may provide a glimmer of hope for Banjo fans after a worrying couple of days following the circulation of that initial quote.
Greenberg’s profession of love for Banjo-Kazooie comes less than a year after Xbox head Phil Spencer noted thathe’s well aware of how much people would love to see more from the seriesafter it has been lying dormant for so long. That both Spencer and Greenberg would seemingly love there to be more from Banjo makes it even stranger thatrumors a new game was in development were seemingly debunkedover the summer and there has been no update on whether the project is alive or dead since.
