Xbox Exec Dismisses Rumour That He Doesn't Care About Banjo-Kazooie

Ah the YouTubers fault.

Not the MS executive pulling his comment back. Because that never happens.

What a waste of an IP, what a waste of rare.

Puerta al Sótano went directly to the sótano.

Absolutely yes.
And keep it exclusive to Xbox.

I have no feelings either way about this franchise. If they released a new game & it looks fun I would give it a chance. If they never do /shrug there are thousands of other options.

Predictably, some people believe a random Youtuber and not Microsoft. It reminds me when those people were saying that there were not going to be more Xbox consoles because someone started spreading the rumour and didn't pay any attention when Microsoft was specific and clear about it not being true. It also reminds me when those people were assuring everyone else that Xbox was going to release every game for PS5. All the malicious rumours about Xbox were spread as true, but they did not care about anything Microsoft said looking at the camera in a podcast. Since the acquisition of ABK, the rain of ill-intentioned comments about Xbox has been ridiculous, like all the salt in the world was raining down on them.

I mean, this is simple. Greenberg consistently jokes around, so saying "no one cares about Banjo Kazooie" as a joke at an event for another product is in line with that. This was a thing that was meant for a moment that some YouTuber grabbed and blew out of proportion.

It’s interesting how he phrased this backpedal. He could have simply said ‘I’m aware of how much the IP means to fans of the series’, but instead we get a statement which includes two distinct groups—“our fans” (presumably Xbox fans) and “gamers everywhere” (PC, Nintendo and PlayStation oriented gamers). I wonder if this means there is something in the works, and that it’s primed for a multiplatform release? 🤔

What is he supposed to do when every developer they have (and some external) has publicly stated they do not want to make that game? In a way what he said is true. The game makers do not care about banjo.

I think a casual remaster for all platforms is the 1st step in attempting to reboot but I doubt it would do very well. The IP might just be dead.

I wish Nintendo made switch online statistics available. It would be fascinating to see how many are playing the recent Banjo Tooie addition and what demographic they are.

I suspect a youtuber of trying to get hits and probably either deliberately mis-representing, or deliberately misunderstanding Aaron.
I believe the Exec - they are all very used to how things get twisted and misrepresented, so I don't think he would have been so flippant with that viewpoint, even if he had felt that way.
It's also hard to believe that any long time gamer would not have a soft spot for one of the great IP's. It would be so great if they were to bring us a banjo game....

As much as I would love a new game, I don't think it would be profitable. Banjo kazooie is not as popular as most people try to pretend it is. It's rather unfortunate, but it's how it is.

Crash Bandicoot was one of the most-played games on Game Pass when it was added, right between the behemoths you are thinking of. I'm sure that Banjo-Kazooie would be successful, but they should make faithful remakes first, like the N.sane Trilogy. After that, Rare, that still has the creator of Banjo-Kazooie, and Playtonic, that has some of Rare staff, would be the perfect team. The personalities of Banjo and Kazooie must not be corrupted. Kazooie and Rare's Cranky Kong have the best lines in a video game ever.

@Banjo- id love to see banjo, crash, spyro and those ‘younger’ audience type games make a comeback.

So many of the old classics are missing.

@Bigmanfan it would depend on who made it, imo. The success of Astrobot does suggest that fans would support a well-made platformer. If they really want to go for it, "Banjo-Kazooie meet Conker" writes itself.

With all due respect Aaron Greenberg should’ve lost his job years ago, I mean he’s responsible for Xbox marketing and PR, yet Xbox’ marketing is almost non existent and has been abysmal for 2 generations in a row!

@armondo36 But conker isn't really that popular either. The thing with astrobot is that everyone who owns a PS5 knows who astrobot is. Astros playroom is pre installed on every PS5. Conker and Banjo don't have that same brand recognition. Could a game like that do well? Perhaps, but it would need good marketing and probably a cross platform release on Nintendo, since that's where you'll find most banjo fans. Basically, I don't think they could drop a new banjo right now and have it be successful, they'd need to build it up. Release a remake of the original, create a tech demo, or something else like that. They gotta teach people what banjo is, cause most of the Xbox gamers aren't gonna know that.

To fill the area of characters that are clearly weak on Xbox, it is necessary to regularly release Banjo, Conker, Crash Bandicoot, etc.

At least in the area where I live, it is a game console for old men now.

Anything can be a rumour so hmm. Also many old IPs people could say that niche or popular and annoy a fan base. That or with Naughty Bear/Conker or others some of us are fine with a parody/mature looking cartoony game because why not. It's always interesting to see them.

As if 360/Switch online releases weren't enough to say hey this audience is interested still besides just it being an N64 game and remembered highly, the audience for popular games not pushed out all the time is still a thing they aren't AA/B grade or 1-3 game series & left behind. They are left behind but still big audience fan bases even if moved onto other games, still impactful/large fanbase.

Odd timing. Yooka Layllee a sign/Banjo clones & 3D platformer revival period right now as well.

They have numbers for Voodoo Vince Remastered, Demon Turf (got physical on Xbox for a reason as not physical on PS/Switch), the many platformer or other types of family friendly games for our Xbox or other platforms. Or buying them up second hand. I got Kya Dark Lineage/Malice (beat it 100%) & enjoying them both. for Banjo, for Spyro/Crash, for Psychonauts 2, for Lucky's Tale, for nay other family friendly games but mostly those that contain that 5-6th gen like audience appeal that like myself seek.

Just because some people don't understand that audience or seek money we are a sizeable amount or else Mario/Sonic let alone others wouldn't sell or have fan art or as much seeking these old games and why Croc is returning because people will be interested in it and are.

Glover on modern consoles besides just PC, Blinx/Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy being via back compat let alone Blinx in Gamepass is great to see no Blinx 2 but it's something with 1 in there. Voodoo Vince Remastered even.

Like they just ignore us as a an audience & go eh kids these days don't care, most adults playing stereotypical adult/teen audience games instead. JP/family games Xbox said, were is it of happening besides obvious games that still are Xbox audience focused then all platform releases/exclusives of OG/360 era it just doesn't happen.

Crazy ideas in kids games then mature games any day.

I don't want mature games with eh themes & boring gameplay, I play them for gameplay, themes can be whatever but still unappealing.

I'm buying up PS3/360/Wii shooters for the gameplay mechanics because modern ones are MP focused and average for the singleplayer ones that are good but not as exciting or waiting for more and filling it in with past ones.

Some kids/family games have more fun gameplay thrown at the wall for level design/character movesets besides the simple story, fair stories, they have better gameplay because they push different ideas mature games won't push as they like to push themes/story more.

So why would I not play them I don't care how they look or how low age rating they are if the gameplay is pushing crazy ideas, or average ideas but still more fun fantasy/sci-fi settings or whatever then the dark or whatever drama and such type games, eh real life recreations I don't care about or other details or fair teen level of themes but eh gameplay or passable gameplay then well a family game with good gamepaly any day over them.

Just because some people don't get us wanting good gameplay or fair artstyles in our Indies or family friendly AAA games.

Especially if wanting to push tone/themes and bad gameplay well be my guest then.

He'll never live this down. Jim Ryan made a comment years ago about why would anyone want to play old games nowadays, and he heard about it till the day he retired.

Yes more stupid words from people burning a brand down at the worst time