Xbox head thinks ‘nobody cares about Banjo-Kazooie’ despite Nintendo’s massive launch
BANJO-KAZOOIE is an iconic 3D platforming series that first saw success on the Nintendo 64.
It comes from Rare, a British video game studio that created a number of popular games on Nintendo’s first 3D console.
While Rare was best known for making games on the N64, the studio was purchased by Xbox back in 2002.
It then started work on games for the Kinect, but continued making Banjo-Kazooie games for Nintendo’s handheld consoles.
All Banjo-Kazooie games had been platformers until 2008, when the team created racing game Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts for the Xbox 360.
There hasn’t been a Banjo-Kazooie game since Nuts & Bolts, and fans have always blamed Microsoft for killing off the series.
While Banjo-Kazooie hasn’t seen a new entry in 16 years, the hype surrounding the series is still very real.
Nintendo just announced that Banjo-Tooie is launching on Nintendo Switch Online, and fans were thrilled to see the game make a comeback.
This is why fans were furious to hear comments about the series from Xbox VP Aaron Greenberg.
At a recent event for Microsoft Flight Simulator, YouTuber Puerta al Sótano was asked by Greenberg about what Xbox games he’d like to see.
Puerta al Sótano claims that when he said Banjo-Kazooie, Greenberg responded: “Nobody cares about Banjo-Kazooie.”
Greenberg later clarified on social media that this claim was supposed to be sarcastic.
When answering a tweet asking if the comment was sarcasm, Greenberg said: “Correct, 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.”
This hasn’t stopped fans being angry at Xbox for not giving us another Banjo-Kazooie game.
The final Banjo solo
Whether Greenberg’s remarks were meant as a joke or not, the comment still feels insensitive given how fans feel about the series.
Rare fans were extremely disappointed by the studio’s purchase by Microsoft, especially as it developed so many of the best N64 games.
Perfect Dark, GoldenEye, and Donkey Kong Country are all Rare games, showing that the studio is capable of greatness.
Xbox has to be aware that many fans felt that the developers’ talents were wasted making Kinect games.
Since then Rare has gone on to work on Sea of Thieves which has offered some redemption to fans.
If you want to read more about Xbox, check out everything announced at the Xbox Partner Preview.
All the latest Xbox reviews from The Sun
Get the lowdown on more of the latest Xbox releases from our expert reviewers.
- South Park: Snow Day
- Berserk Boy
- Eiyuden Chronicle
- Skull and Bones
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
- Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
- WWE 2K24
- Alone in the Dark
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
For PS5 and Nintendo Switch, check out our full game reviews section.