New Banjo Kazooie Game Is Rumored To Be In Active Development, Greenlit In Early 2022

A new Banjo Kazooie game is currently in active development, and the project was greenlit in early 2022, based on the latest rumor.

NateDrake, who is known for his Nintendo related leaks, took to enthusiast gaming forum Reset Era to share that the rumored new Banjo Kazooie title from Rare is still in active development.

However, Nate clarified that the project was only greenlit early last year in 2022. Much of the developmental work has yet to be done and several aspects of the game can change. He mentioned abandoned ideas as well as internal reboots, etc. Based on what he said, it appears that the game is still in its conceptual phase, and many of the design elements have yet to be locked down.

The previous entry in Rare’s Banjo Kazooie series is 2008’s Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Taking place eight years after Banjo-Tooie (2000), the game follows Banjo and Kazooie as they battle against the witch Gruntilda for control of their home. While maintaining the core element of collecting jigsaw puzzle pieces for progression, Nuts & Bolts shifts the focus from exploration to building various vehicles. Players can design automobiles, boats, and airplanes to tackle challenges in different worlds, with the option to compete or share vehicles in multiplayer modes over Xbox Live.

The game’s development commenced after Grabbed by the Ghoulies (2003) and involved the same team responsible for the Nintendo 64 Banjo games, led by designer Gregg Mayles. Initially conceived as a remake of the original Banjo-Kazooie (1998), it evolved into a new game that targets a broader audience. Rare aimed to redefine the platformer genre by introducing vehicular gameplay, utilizing the Havok physics engine. The idea of customization stemmed from Tim Stamper’s suggestion for a game akin to connecting Lego bricks. The soundtrack is composed by Robin Beanland, Dave Clynick, and Grant Kirkhope in his final work for Rare