Banjo-Kazooie composer sees slim hope for sequel

Grant Kirkhope, the legendary composer behind Banjo-Kazooie and the Donkey Kong Rap, has expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of a third mainline entry in the platformer franchise, marking a shift from his previous conviction that another game was virtually impossible.

Nearly 30 years have elapsed since the original Banjo-Kazooie arrived on the Nintendo 64, with the last series entry, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, launching on Xbox 360 almost two decades ago. In a recent interview, Kirkhope revealed that his outlook has evolved from believing there was "zero chance" of a sequel to acknowledging a "slight chance" might now exist.

The composer attributes this modest shift to changes in Rare's leadership structure. He noted that the studio has historically rejected virtually every proposal presented to it, citing his knowledge of numerous pitches—including animated series concepts—that were dismissed outright. However, with former studio head Craig Duncan stepping down from his position at Xbox Game Studios, Kirkhope suggests Rare may have become "a little bit different" and potentially "more open to discussion."

Despite this tentative optimism, progress remains elusive. Kirkhope disclosed that at least three external developers have formally pitched Banjo-Kazooie revival concepts to either Microsoft or Rare, yet none reportedly succeeded in securing approval. He speculated that Rare's current focus on other projects makes an in-house development unlikely, though he suggested Xbox's apparent renewed emphasis on established franchises could create an opening for external studios.

Should a new Banjo game materialize, Kirkhope indicated his willingness to participate, saying he would eagerly join the project. One studio that has publicly expressed interest is Toys for Bob, the team behind the Spyro and Crash Bandicoot revivals. The studio's co-head previously suggested the team would relish the opportunity to bring the bear-and-bird duo back to life, drawing parallels to their successful work revitalizing other beloved gaming properties.