Kotaku has had the chance to chat with Xbox boss Phil Spencer about the inclusion of Rare’s Banjo and Kazooie in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. The iconic bear and bird will be added as DLC fighters in the Autumn. As readers of the site will know, Mr. Spencer has always been behind the inclusion of Banjo appearing in Super Smash Bros and it was an easy decision to add the former Nintendo IP to the Smash Bros franchise. Here’s what he had to say to Kotaku.
“The ‘how’ is not actually that interesting. Obviously we’re one of the biggest third-party publishers on Switch, so we have great relationships with their third-party team. And you’ve seen the ambition they’ve had with every character that’s ever been in Smash and even more. So it was just kind of part of the partnership relationship we have with them.”
“There wasn’t anything kind of CEO-to-CEO that had to happen. People have asked me on social [media]—I’m sure you’ve seen that—over many years: ‘Would I welcome having Banjo in Smash?’ and I’ve always been open to that.”
Kotaku.com
Way to go Phil 👏!
Still, there had to be SOME legal hoops to jump through.
Welcome back, bear and bird- it’s so good to see you again.
Probably, but they might have been as simple as “here, sign this contract – okay”.
I dont care how they did it. I’m just glad they did.
I really REALLY love Banjo & Kazooie’s designs in Smash!
It’s like a HD Remake of the original duo but in a Fighting game!
They did a really neat job. They also did good on the characters. I am so glad they didn’t go overboard with the Nuts &Bolts design.
Music is want on Smash
Rusty Bucket Bay
Mayhem Temple
Bubble Gloop Swamp
Mad Monster Mansion
Terreyectual land
Grunty Industries
Grunty’s Lair(more likey)
Click Clock Wood
You forgot Treasure Trove Cove, and a mix of boss themes would be good (Lord Woo Fak Fak, Chilly Billy/Willy, Klungo, Mr. Patch, etc.)
Bring the Banjo-Kazooie games
They may as will bring them Banjo-kazooie games to the Switch, Rare is going to get Smash brothers money per DLC Banjo-kazooie download. Why not increase revenue by allowing the actual game on Switch. What I want is Banjo-Threeie.
It’s hard to see Banjo-Threeie. People thinked that this year Banjo will get a new game but Rare said they won’t work on old IPs.
Screw it have Nintendo work in their IP then. Banjo-kazooie need a new game.
Now Rare Replay switch port please
Your witch is back, now start Threeie adventure and stuff that bird in that old backpack.
I hope Microsoft let’s Ninty use our IP so they can make a true game, it better not be lame.
Specific songs I want
Click Clock Wood Spring
Click Clock Wood Summer
Click Clock Wood Autumn
I didnt care for Winter.
Oh forgot one song. Remeber when I think it was Conker some Squirrel in Click Clock Wood. You had to wait until Winter to enter that other window. That song was Epic!!!
Speaking of Music since Nintendo and Microsoft are great pals why not release some great DK64 songs on Smash Brothers? That game had some epic songs but was Rareware owned.
DK Rap. SONG Was only on Melee. I dont think it was on BRAWL. Was it?
Because when Melee first came out Nintendo and Rare were still partners.
The DK Rap has been in every Smash since Melee, only since Wii U and now in Ultimate it only contains the verses for DK, Diddy, and Tiny- they omitted Lanky’s and Chunky’s for some bizarre reason.
I hope they are at least in talk about Threeie. And who is working with it. I dont care if it is Retro, Playtonic(though I dont think they have to revenue to afford to work with it) Ubisoft , Rare or Nintendo.
We need somebody to work on a new Banjo-kazooie. I rather Nintendo do it. They have the best experience of making 3D sandbox games.
Wow, I just thought of something.
Is it possible Banjo and Diddy Kong can be in a racing game in the future? Is it possible those Diddy Kong Racing game characters to come back? Banjo and Diddy havent been together since Diddy Kong Racing.
I see why they used the DK franchise to introduce Banjo-kazooie.
Mario vs Banjo-kazooie
I love how on the trailer Kazooie tossed a bomb to Diddy to throw at Donkey Kong. Because Banjo and Diddy go a long long way. It’s like Diddy Kong is so happy his pal is back.
If you had said Banjo and Kazooie would be in Smash some day a year ago, I’d laugh in your face and call you a lunatic. Thanks for proving me wrong, Spencer.
Well the next logical step is to attach ourselves to another character with minimal chance of entering Smash. Peacock (Skullgirls) for Smash Ultimate!
Joke aside, when a character like Banjo has/had such support from people in charge of the character (in this case, Phil Spencer), the idea doesn’t sound so ludicrous.
Rare, take my advise; Either go full multi-platform, or let Nintendo buy you back because they’re showing that they have a better use of your IP than Microsoft has.
Unfortunately, it’s not up to Rare since Microsoft owns them. Unless they want to sell the company, Rare is going nowhere. I wouldn’t hold my breath for that, though, since Microsoft has been buying a lot of developers recently to bolster their future 1st party lineups. They are more likely to hire new, better talent at Rare than to sell it.
But never say never. After all, Banjo and Kazooie are in Smash now.
Yeah, they are SURE to find talent. /s
In all seriousness; I gave up on that mentality. Every time I wait to see Rare getting new staff members that could bring them to their glory days, it NEVER HAPPENS!!!
Granted Killer Instinct was pretty good, but most of the time they either give us sequels that are not what they’re hoping for, or games that don’t deliver on their promises right away.
Even the upcoming Battletoads (which I’m hoping IS good) is getting criticism over it’s art style.
Face it, chances of a good game from Rare that’s under Microsoft’s belt are few and far between these days.
Reblogged this on Nitwit's World.
I just wish Banjo-Kazooie was featured in Smash Ultimate from the beginning. Since I don’t buy DLC. I’ll never experience seeing them in the game.
Next Smash DLC…………A fighter from Killer Instinct. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.
That would be SO cool if Rare Replay released (physically) for the Switch. That’s like the only Xbox game I care anything about. Aside from maybe the new Killer Instinct and Battletoads (though I hated the way the new Battletoads looked).