Banjo-Kazooie Composer Says "Like 3 Companies" Have Pitched a New Entry, but "Rare Just Typically Say No"

Grant Kirkhope, the iconic composer behind the music of Banjo-Kazooie, has expressed a renewed sense of hope regarding the potential return of the beloved platformer franchise. Nearly three decades have passed since the original Nintendo 64 release, and it has been almost twenty years since Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts launched on the Xbox 360. Speaking in an interview with FRVR, Kirkhope noted that while he previously considered the chances of a new installment to be completely non-existent, he now feels there is a "slight chance" that a sequel could eventually happen.

According to Kirkhope, the potential for a revival is bolstered by the possibility that Rare's updated leadership might be more receptive to outside developers taking the helm. He stated that he personally knows of "like three companies" that have pitched new entries in the series to either Microsoft or Rare, though none of those past attempts were successful. Explaining past hurdles, Kirkhope claimed that "Rare just typically say no to everything," noting that even outside proposals for cartoons had been rejected over the years. Furthermore, he believes Rare is currently too busy to develop a new platformer in-house.

Despite the historical rejections, external interest remains visible. Spyro developer Toys for Bob has previously expressed admiration for the franchise and an interest in reviving it, though the studio has been occupied with other projects like Spyro: A Realm Beyond. Additionally, Kirkhope suggested that Day 4 Night Studios—the team working on Bradley the Badger, for which Kirkhope serves as composer—would be well-suited for the task. Should a new entry ever be greenlit, Kirkhope confirmed that he would gladly return to participate in the project.