Toys For Bob has expressed strong interest in developing a new Banjo-Kazooie game if Microsoft decides to greenlight the project. The studio, currently focused on the upcoming Spyro game, harbors genuine enthusiasm for the classic platformer series and its legacy.
The developers at Toys For Bob cite Banjo-Kazooie as a formative influence on their work. The original 1998 Rare title established the template for 3D platformers that still resonates with modern game design. That creative DNA runs through the studio's approach to Spyro, where they've applied lessons learned from collectathon mechanics and character-driven exploration.
No official Banjo project exists at Toys For Bob or anywhere else at Microsoft Studios currently. Xbox has largely shelved the franchise since Rare shifted to service games and other priorities. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts released in 2008 on Xbox 360 and marked the series' last major entry, though the characters have appeared in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate across Nintendo platforms.
Toys For Bob has spent years rebuilding its reputation after the rocky development of Activision projects. The studio regained credibility through its Spyro Reignited Trilogy remaster and demonstrated strong technical execution and creative vision. That portfolio makes them a credible candidate for handling premium platformer IP.
The statement from Toys For Bob represents a broader industry conversation about dormant franchises and the studios equipped to revive them. Microsoft controls valuable 3D platformer IP through Banjo-Kazooie and Perfect Dark, yet prioritizes Game Pass subscription content and live-service projects. A traditional platformer doesn't fit current strategy, despite strong player appetite for the genre in recent years. Indie developers have filled this gap through titles like A Hat in Time and Y