While fans still hope for a new Banjo-Kazooie title, the composer behind the original games has voiced serious doubts about the series’ return. In a candid interview with Eurogamer, composer Grant Kirkhope—best known for his work on the beloved 1998 platformer Banjo-Kazooie—shared a sobering take on the future of the franchise. Despite his personal enthusiasm, Kirkhope believes that a third installment is unlikely, primarily due to financial concerns.
“I just don’t think it would make enough money,” Kirkhope said, adding that while there’s clear fan support, it might not translate into the kind of sales needed to justify development costs.
The Banjo-Kazooie series, developed by Rare, became a cult classic following its Nintendo 64 debut, thanks to its humor, world design, and memorable soundtrack. However, the most recent entry, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008), left fans divided due to its vehicle-building mechanics.
In 2024, fan hopes were further dashed when Xbox VP of Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg tweeted that “nobody cares about Banjo-Kazooie.” Although he later clarified it was sarcasm, the comment sparked frustration across the gaming community, and reinforced concerns that a sequel wasn’t even on the drawing board.
Kirkhope outlined three major barriers to a new entry:
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Profitability: Publishers may not believe it would sell well enough.
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Rare’s Interest: It’s unclear whether the original studio wants to revisit the IP.
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Preserving the Tone: If an outside team took over, could they retain the franchise’s signature British humor?
Despite the challenges, Kirkhope made one thing crystal clear:
“If they ever made a new Banjo-Kazooie, I’d compose the music in a heartbeat.”
For now, Banjo-Kazooie remains a nostalgic favorite. But with no official plans in place, the return of the bear-and-bird duo is still a dream—one that Kirkhope and fans alike would love to see come true.