Ethan Crossfield 
If you’ve been waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to make a comeback, today’s update is encouraging—but it doesn’t guarantee anything. Toys for Bob says it would love to build a new Banjo-Kazooie game, yet the decision still sits with Xbox, which has prioritized other major franchises.
What changed: Toys for Bob is still pitching the idea
Toys for Bob—currently developing Spyro: A Realm Beyond—has again expressed interest in returning to Rare’s classic Banjo-Kazooie universe. In a recent conversation with Kinda Funny Games, associate creative director Louis Studdert and studio head Paul Yan described their team’s enthusiasm for the franchise, emphasizing how strongly the studio’s staff connects with Banjo as a platforming icon.
The studio’s comments also tie into what Toys for Bob likes to make: character-driven, mascot-style platformers. Banjo-Kazooie is viewed internally as a natural fit for that design philosophy, and the developers suggested the characters have an enduring, “timeless” appeal. In other words, this isn’t a one-off wish—it’s an ongoing desire that keeps resurfacing as the studio works on other projects.
Who’s affected: Banjo-Kazooie fans, Rare’s legacy, and Xbox’s priorities
Banjo-Kazooie fans have been waiting for a new entry for years. The last mainline game in the series came in 2008 with Nuts & Bolts, and after that, the franchise largely went quiet. Rare—acquired by Xbox in 2002—has spent more of its modern focus on Sea of Thieves.
While Rare’s older catalog remains playable on Xbox through collections like Rare Replay, the broader momentum for new Banjo-Kazooie projects hasn’t materialized. That’s part of why Toys for Bob’s renewed interest matters: it indicates there’s still talent outside Rare that wants to work in the style of the original 3D platforming era.
However, Xbox’s role remains the deciding factor. The source notes that Xbox continues to prioritize its biggest franchises, including Halo, Gears of War, Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. Banjo-Kazooie isn’t described as a current top focus—meaning any revival would depend on Xbox choosing to greenlight a new development effort.
What comes next: a possible path forward (but no timeline)
There’s a reason Toys for Bob’s involvement could be strategically appealing to Xbox. The studio became independent after the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but it reportedly maintains a positive working relationship with Xbox. If Xbox decides it wants a new Banjo-Kazooie game, partnering with an already-interested, proven third-party studio could be less of a risk than reallocating internal resources.
At the same time, Xbox has not fully moved on from the series. The company continues to license Banjo-Kazooie products and merchandise, showing there’s still commercial and brand value in keeping the characters present in the ecosystem.
For players, the takeaway is straightforward: this is a strong signal that the creative appetite exists, but it doesn’t change the core reality that Xbox controls whether a new game happens. Until Xbox makes a concrete decision, fans should treat this as momentum—not confirmation.
What players should know
- Toys for Bob says it would love to make a new Banjo-Kazooie game, but Xbox still decides if the franchise returns.
- The Banjo-Kazooie series has been dormant since 2008, while Rare’s recent spotlight has largely been on Sea of Thieves.
- Toys for Bob’s platforming focus (from work on Crash Bandicoot and Spyro) makes it a plausible fit for a 3D mascot platformer revival.
- Xbox continues Banjo-Kazooie licensing and merchandise, suggesting the brand remains active even without new games.
Expert View
Toys for Bob’s comments are the closest thing fans have gotten to a fresh, studio-level “yes” in a long time. Still, Xbox’s priorities appear to be the real bottleneck: as long as Halo, Gears, Minecraft, and other major franchises dominate internal planning, Banjo-Kazooie will likely stay in limbo. The best case for fans is that Xbox could greenlight a lower-risk external partner like Toys for Bob—but the news doesn’t provide any timeline or commitment.
