Banjo-Kazooie Composer Explains Why He Thinks Another Game Is Unlikely

Over the years, there have been persistent appeals for the return of Rare’s beloved bear and bird pair, Banjo-Kazooie. However, will enthusiasts ever witness this series making a comeback?

The game’s composer, Grant Kirkhope, previously expressed his thoughts earlier this year, stating he had “zero hope” for a new entry. Recently, in an interview with our acquaintances at Eurogamer, he provided further insights into his reasoning behind the perceived unlikelihood.

Kirkhope identifies several reasons behind the potential absence of Banjo-Kazooie’s revival, but he believes the “dominant issue” is primarily financial:

“If we consider that I have over one hundred thousand followers on Twitter, and that represents the Banjo community, then that’s not enough to generate significant revenue. Millions of unit sales are essential, and it’s crucial to appeal to an entirely new generation of kids.”

Furthermore, he’s uncertain whether Rare possesses the “desire” to revive the series, and even if it were to proceed, Microsoft would likely “take a step back.” Consequently, Rare would be tasked with the “heavy lifting,” including locating “another studio that could handle it.”

Kirkhope asserts that the British humor in Banjo-Kazooie is “deeply vital,” meaning the team chosen must have “the enthusiasm and comedic quality needed for it.”

If given the opportunity, Kirkhope claims he would eagerly return to the series:

“I’d absolutely love to do it. Whether I still have more Banjo in me, I can’t say, but I’d certainly give it my best shot.”

Kirkhope’s reflections on the chances of Banjo returning coincide with remarks from Moon Studios and Toys for Bob about potentially reviving Rare’s classic title.

Do you believe we’ll ever witness Banjo-Kazooie return? Besides Rare, which studio would you prefer to see develop a new installment? Share your thoughts below.