Banjo-Kazooie Is 'Coming Home' To A Nintendo Console Via Switch Online

I thought they oddly brushed over this considering how big of an announcement this was.

Nope bayo is better. I will say why isn't the polish more up to date one only on Xbox/PC.

@NintendoByNature I'm sure it was 100% intentional, to get people talking and/or just as a tongue-in-cheek announcement

me, seeing Nintendo 64 games on Switch: 😒😴

me, seeing Banjo Kazooie on Switch: 😍🥰

And best of all I don't see any CCCCCCCCAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR BOATS OR PLANES!

I 100%ed this on the N64, and thought BACK THEN it was too easy. It might be perfect now that I'm a decrepit old man lol.

sweet! I’ll be playing this game for the first time as I sadly never played it during the N64 era

Hopefully Banjo Tooie and Donkey Kong 64 will also be released for N64 NSO sometime in the near future.

Yeah not paying extra for a horrible online service, sorry greedy Nintendo.

Wake me when conker comes home

@Gunit1099 yea you're probably right

@idork99
You are in for a treat. It’s an awesome game, great characters, great music, great levels. I played it the first time as a teen and loved it. Although if you are an adult playing this game for the first time the experience might not be quite the same.

Best announcement of the direct

Time to collect garbage like it’s 1998

@NintendoByNature which is great though, it means they are aware that fans wanted it

Wow! Best 3D platformer ever. And what do Nintendo give Microsoft? I mean, Nintendo take everything but do they ever give a thing? Diddy Kong Racing on Xbox and Switch since it has Rare-owned and Nintendo-owned characters?

NSO N64 really does have a great starting lineup.

Yeaaahhhhh baby! Best 3D platformer ever! Also these rose-tinted glasses fit great thanks for asking.

I’m not paying over 10 extra for this

@BlueOcean Microsoft seems more concerned with building Xbox as a brand than as a console. I'd imagine they're just hoping that this gives them more exposure and pushes people towards their games/services on PC or Xbox. In fairness, I'd imagine Banjo & Kazooie in Smash got a lot of people to pick up the games on Xbox, and the same for Steve.

@Funneefox $10 extra per what, though?
because paying $10 extra for 365 days is an absolute steal.

@VIIIAxel I know. I was thinking of Diddy Kong Racing because it's one of the best kart racing games ever if not the best and it's in limbo.

At least, I hope a sequel comes soon.

@BlueOcean Giving Rare to Microsoft was the biggest thing Nintendo give. This is just Microsoft giving them back what was rightfully theirs (Nintendo) originally.

There's hope for me getting to play Banjo-Tooie then and Hybrid Heaven. It's an even longer shot but I hope Mischief Makers arrives too.

I'm only paying extra bc of paper mario F zero and B&K.

@Specter_of-the_OLED Nintendo didn't care about Rare, they had 49% and refused to buy the rest. That's why somebody else bought 51% of Rare and then Nintendo sold their 49%. Nintendo didn't appreciate the best N64 developer because... Nintendo.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/08/rare_co-founder_has_no_idea_why_nintendo_didnt_buy_the_studio_outright

@BlueOcean
They get money from people who would never buy it on Xbox or PC.

@NintendoByNature That's a weird one, as in the Japanese Direct, Banjo-Kazooie's box was shown right after Majora's Mask's one.

@BlueOcean I'd be shocked to see Nintendo characters show up on Xbox, but I'd definitely like to see it get a sequel or at least just show up on NSO. It's one I've never played since I skipped the N64 growing up, but I've always heard great things about it! I'm happy that Microsoft seems to be cooperating with Nintendo here and I really hope we see more of Rare's games make their way back to Switch.

Banjo and Kazooie are back on Nintendo... exclusively on NSO... as a timed exclusive... because of licensing reasons... and we're probably never getting Rare Replay because of this...

@BlueOcean Obviously the best developers already left Rare, the Stamper Brothers were also moving on from videogames and some of the devs that work on Banjo and Conker either stay with Nintendo or went to open their own studio. Nintendo just happen to sell the brand and IPs to Microsoft, it's up to Microsoft to evolve that brand into something spectacular and they didn't. Nintendo did its part of evolving Rare into the mainstream dev that it could be, it's too bad Microsoft didn't do their part and instead just let Rare rot while taking advantage of its past portfolio just for profit. Also Nintendo deserve the right to use Banjo-Kazooie past titles on their service unlike Microsoft cause those are the games Nintendo help Rare make and market. Those are not just games Nintendo randomly select from a lottery, Nintendo had history and connection with those Rare titles.

I never played this, and would be interested but for the fact that you have to pay for a service to play it.

I sold my N64 because there weren’t many games I was interested in and there was still talk of putting Zelda on the 64DD. I didn’t want to have to invest in more hardware for one game (and I would have because Zelda is my favorite series). I still think the N64 library is the weakest of all Nintendo systems save the Virtual Boy, despite having a handful of the best games of all time.

@Specter_of-the_OLED Who said anything of Nintendo being able to keep Banjo and Kazooie?

This is only temporary as long as NSO lasts until Nintendo's next console.

Bought rare replay on sale for a fiver on my Xbox one s so I won't need a subscription to play it

I honestly was more surprised about the Genesis system addition. That one came way out of left field.
Also, 3d Kirby!

Microsoft really needs to stop being bitch slapped by Nintendo.

Nintendo would never do this for Xbox.

Microsoft should use this to generate interest in the IP and then announce a modern sequel as an Xbox exclusive. Instead of just... sitting on it and doing nothing with it.

@Don
I don't think Rare has any say about what Nintendo does with Donkey Kong. It might just be a courtesy, since Microsoft has proven to be one of Nintendo's best western third party publishers. MAN that feels weird to say!

I assume the NSO version is the actual N64 version so that means no swap feature with Tooie that was incorporated in the XBLA version.

@russell-marlow If their next console is build after the Switch, it's likely this service may last for another gen but if it's an all new interface and new server then yeah this may very well be temporary.

@Marioracer hahaha I can't forget that JonTron scream

@Deerock69
That makes sense given the fact DkC games were re-released countless times since Microsoft acquired Rare. I definitely would like DK64 to be released on NSO as well. Never completed it back in the day and would like to give it another shot on the next re-release.

Would had gladly purchased the two Banjo & Kazooie games either separately or in a collection. How unfortunate that they'll be limited through the ridiculous subscription service premium.

I'll stick to the HD version on Game Pass thank you.

At first I was like coooool then i was like oh yeah I waited so long for this to actually happen that I just downloaded an emulator with all of these games for free. Yahharrrggg matey

And yet "fans" still complain. More games will come down the line obviously.
This was the best part of the Direct for me.
I have 0 problems paying a bit extra.

This was the best news to me from the direct

@Would_you_kindly Can you play Rare Replay portably?

Let me know when they allow us to buy and own it. And Tooie too.

Hoping this leads to GoldenEye 007 and Conker's Bad Fur Day on NSO too. online for those two would be pretty sweet.

I'm not a fan of Banjo Kazooie. However, this announcement has me super hyped because it means that games like Blast Corps, Diddy Kong Racing, and Jet Force Gemini could be possible.

And I will remain blindly hopeful that Goldeneye will come to Switch as well.

@sketchturner online multiplayer in Goldeneye would be great.

Of course it was the best part of the direct. But best direct ever? No, because they forgot to include Diddy King Racing. Assume they are holding it for a slow month.

I don't understand the fuss here.

Nintendo 64 could be emulated since january 1999, which is soon 23 years ago.
No point in paying extra to emulate it on Switch.

Those with CFW on Switch, could run Banjo and Goldeneye on Switch already 4 years ago.

Diddy Kong Racing please 🐒

I enjoyed BK, so this is cool in my book. I'm really hoping for Conker's Bad Fur Day and Diddy King Racing to drop, though.

I absolutely wouldn't say best direct ever (lol not even CLOSE), but this is still pretty good news! I've never owned Banjo games back on the N64 so this will be a nice opportunity.

It’d be more cost effective to buy B-K alone, IMO. I’ve got the N64 and Genesis games I want, minus this and several they didn’t reveal.

Yoshi story is amazing. I so can't wait to play this little gem again. Of course I'm super hyped for ocerina of time and majoras mask. I will gladly play banjo again for the tenth time and enjoy the crap out of it. So glad it's finally back home on a nintendo console. I'm really hoping at some stage we get to see snowboarding kids, mischief makers, and of course goldeneye one day and I'm looking forward to banjo 2 as I never finished it back in the day. I'm so excited to play these ripping games again

If they got BK then Perfect Dark is also a logical addition down the road. And if, against all odds, they ever managed to resurrect GoldenEye 007, it might even make Switch Online worth the subscription.

What happens when you try to play a Mario 64 style game that has zero dynamic movement options? Find out when you trudge through Banko Kazooie and Yooka Layee!

I was screaming with delight!! It's finally back on our system guys!! ❤️❤️❤️

Another big announcement that isn't really hyped enough IMO.

Microsoft and Nintendo have always had a good relationship. Does anyone remember wii60?

@UglyCasanova
Are they really gonna increase the price?
Havent watched the direct yet.
But if they do, it will be the last time i pay for their online service.

While I am glad that fans are getting this, I will not be playing this game when it is released. Anyone who says it’s the best 3D playformer has not played many 3D platformers. This game is overrated.

@Themagusx1 go crawl back under your rock please sir!

What a game this is, I play the mods people make and love those too. I think if you did not experience it at the time you may not 'get it' but it's a truly great 3D platformer that stayed in the memory of many gamers for nearly 25 years.

Those glory days at Rare were amazing, maybe Microsoft could allow them to do Donkey Kong Racing finally for us!

Yeeeeeah boiiiiiiiiiii!!!

@quinnyboy58 Really? Did I anger you with my comments. Good cause I know better 3D platformers than this game. It’s overrated with its massive attempt to drag itself with filler collecting. Continue being mad, it will amuse me.

@Marioracer Let's hope we see all three later on. It would be nice to see DKR re-let out of licensing hell.

Many people didn't see it, because (for whatever reason) Nintendo only showed it in the US stream. At least in the west.

The Direct was one of the best for sure.

With BK being allowed on Switch online, this would mean that other Rare games may potentially come to the system. This is also means the the Big N and MS/Rare could work together on the Goldeneye licensing issue....

@alexybubble Yeah man that be sweet.

@quinnyboy58 agree with you. Its a timeless classic. Defenately in my top games ever. Great level design, great character design and i loved the humour.
Id also love to see DKR back on a modern console. Imo it always was better than Mario Kart with that adventure mode.

No joke at all... WINBACK had me jumping out of my seat.

Here's hoping Diddy Kong Racing gets added.

Banjo Kazooie is a good start, but will need to see more Rare games before I start paying more money every month.

Mega Drive is also pretty unappealing... SEGA already have a MD collection released on Switch and there's another Sonic collection inbound.

I needed to check the calendar a few times to make sure it's not April 1st...

I also was really surprised by Winback!

A Koei game I believe, I never expected that. In fact it was more of a surprise to me than Banjo K was! I remember reading about Winback in N64 magazine back in the day but never got to try it for myself. 😄

@Themagusx1 get a life lol we get it you don't like it, move on no need to comment here.

Those with any sense from the era know it was an instant classic.

I think what was brushed over was that it's an expansion, so it's going to cost MORE!
For what NSO is, its not worth it.
BUT its Banjo Kazooie, I might have to cave and get one month just to play that

@quinnyboy58 I can comment here child, it’s an open forum both negative and comments are allowed here. Is that hard for to comprehend? Does it hurt to hear your favorite game have flaws, cause it’s heavily flawed….

I was around from that era and it sure is not a classic. Tell me why it’s so important that my comment eats you. By the way Mario 64 says hello, Mario Galaxy says hello. I love seeing my comments eat at ypu. It’s overrated get over it.

@quinnyboy58 and some one who gets mad about an internet comment telling some one to get a life is true comedic gold. Hahahahahaha

Nintendo 64 games are great because they are some of Nintendo's least available stuff but putting them exclusively behind this bull just completely kills it for me.

Give me Lylat Wars, MK64, Sin & Punishment and Banjo and I'll pay a freaking 100 bucks, just let me actually keep those goshdarn it.

This would be exciting if there wasn't a far superior HD remaster of this game available on Xbox consoles since 2008

Just for that game I might pay the extra money for the additional nso service

Happy to see BK.

but

Bad move to create a separate plan for more old ROMs.

@quinnyboy58 Who hurt you?

If Tooie comes to NSO I'm sold, Kazooie is great and all and will def play it, but I prefer Tooie in the series

I hope they eventually bring mystical ninja starring goemon 1 & 2, those games were great. Great music too. They did put goemon as a mii Fighter in smash.. so, hope that means it’ll come one day!

If the online service was better I wouldn’t mind paying a little more, but Nintendo’s biggest flaw is their online. No online party system with a seamless chat feature makes them look so archaic. I love Nintendo as much as the next guy but I’d have been much happier if they went with a virtual console service again with demos in place, at least then I could own the titles I want to play. There really should be no upcharge.

Nice to see BK back on a Nintendo platform. Will be interesting if they bring Tooie to the service, how they'll possibly do the Stop n Swop stuff.

However, charging an extra tier cost for this update of NSO is where things get iffy.

What I was missing from the line up was Donkey Kong 64. Seemed a curious omission.

Edit: And Wave Race. This deal is getting worse all the time.

Sin & Punishment and Paper Mario did make me briefly waver on my "I'm not paying more for N64 games as part of my subscription". BK did add a little bit more pressure. But I shall continue to resist.

Cool, but…

If we get Banjo-Tooie, will they fix the terrible framerate?
Can we get Perfect Dark, Conker and Diddy Kong Racing with online multiplayer?

Also how does online multiplayer work on retro games with unlockable requirements? Thinking of the racers in F-Zero, tanks/on-foot in. Star Fox, cheats in Perfect Dark…. Does the system treat Player 1 as the host, and everyone else just drops into their version of the game?

@FatWormBlowsASparky im guessing they want to hold some of the big hitters for later to add to the drip feed that will inevitably happen. 64 games have always been the slowest games to hit the virtual console out of any other console. If i recall right there were 300 odd snes games on the wii VC and only something like 30 N64 games. Im not expecting a massive library.

I liked how the scene cut right after the Banjo box appears on screen, did they do it on purpose? Like, make you think you dreamed it or something? Amazing that the bird and bear are finally home

One of my favourite games EVER made, I have always been a fan of the bear and bird (even have the First 4 figure of them). I have lost count of the number of times I have played it to 100% over the years (since it was first released). Would have preferred to be able to purchase it through the eShop instead of through the subscription service but I am still thrilled that it is finally coming to the Switch.

And here is some Perfect Darkness right in your Goldeneyed face, and oh, Conker NSO and Reloaded without censorsh!t, we don't do censorship here at Nintendon't. All in a Bad Fur Day's work. Cross play with Xbox owners and gyro enhanced.

And then I woke up.

I would prefer it if the remasters were here and they edited the Nintendo product placement back in.
I would also really love remasters of GoldenEye and Perfect Dark on Nintendo Switch with gyro controls, a toggle between the original and remastered graphics, surround sound, rumble in GoldenEye, the option for modern Switch controls and retro N64 controls, and all of the ultra-widescreen options of the original N64 version.

Kinda put off with extra costs

@BlueOcean money

Unpopular opinion: this game isn’t very good. The n64 library has not aged well. There was a shock and awe effect at the time around 3D graphics in general that has well and truly worn off. They look bad, they sound bad and they play even worse.

@Don I imagine they were just showing Day 1 and the first few waves of updates. There will be more. They won't leave the app lacking DK64, even if it's the inferior DKC game.

I really hope this means Microsoft is going to cooperate with Nintendo to release more N64 games by Rareware. Imagine playing Diddy Kong Racing and battling with a few buds in Icicle Pyramid online... OH! Or putting in the "JOINTVENTURE" cheat to play the Adventure Mode with a friend!

I want to buy these games, not rent them through online services! If N sold them for 20/game, it would make even more money.

@CharlieGirl 10 dollars extra a month. If they expect us to pay 20$ upwards monthly I’m out

Love seeing the Diddy Kong Racing love here. And even a Jet Force Gemini callout! I'm hoping for these, too.

I wonder if I have some sort of post-traumatic stress that makes me fixate on Diddy Kong Racing: remember the Gamecube teasers that showed a (maybe) successor to DKR for the Gamecube coming from Rare? And then they went to Microsoft before it happened. sigh

Anyway, I have all the classic mini console things, but there is not one for N64, so... I might even buy that controller for the convenience.

If Nintendo thinks I'll be signing up for their online service just to play N64 games, they're wrong. I would gladly pay to download Banjo Kazooie, but I'm not interested in renting it.

@aaronsullivan imo it will always be the best kart racer ever. Multiple vehicles that were all great to drive, cool imaginative bosses and the whole adventure mode was just a joy. No Mario kart has ever topped that feeling i had when playing DKR.

I never played Banjo-Kazooie before, but I am the only Banjo main in existence so I think I will enjoy it.

Awesome news I love my N64 games 😀

Come to think of it. Remember the Japanese Wii U Virtual Console listings for Banjo-Kazooie and Blast Corps that turned out to be a mistake? My guess is that the addition of the former was being prepared since then.

I hope this leads to the rest of the classic Rareware lineup, especially Banjo-Tooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day.

@Charmaster24 I've seen a few Banjo-Kazooie mains that do nothing but spam the grenade egg in the air. I don't consider myself a B-K main, but I have fun using them and they're among the characters I use the most.

@Arkay
because someone criticizes something doesn't make them any less of a "fan"
for me the issue is tying the game to a subscription service without the option of buying it from the eshop, which i an issue i have with the legacy content in general, compared to something like Xbox game pass which ha a "buy and keep" option.

@Mgalens honestly I see your point and agree. Would have loved to actually "own" these but I'll take what I can get.

@Bizzyb tbf without an internet connection you won't be able to play nso games so the portability is really pointless for most people

This is pretty damn cool, I'd still love a nice physical copy of rare replay for switch though

If they bring perfect dark over I hope its the xbla version

@Ventilator
The Internet: Since Nintendo won't let us play their legacy titles we're forced to emulate.
Nintendo: Here are legacy titles.
The Internet: i'M nOt PaYiNg WhEn I cAn EmUlAtE.

@dustinprewitt we should be able to buy those game, not having them locked behind NSO! Also, Switch gets crappy N64 Ocarina when 3DS had a OOT with better resolution and textures? Also, no Zelda Anniversary Collection like for Mario? That’s a huge disappointment!!!!!!!

I bought an Xbox for BK and it’s kind of too little too late for me especially since it’s in a premium package. But super happy for those who don’t have another console.

Plus I really like the minor upgrades they did in the Xbox versions.

@Znake honestly I agree. After playing those 3ds ports and the polished Xbox versions of Banjo I’m not that excited, especially when it’s another subscription model.

@Would_you_kindly it just had to connect once every seven days to let you play. And if you have nso you obviously have the ability to get internet at least once every seven days.

@OFFICIALMichi N64 Ocarina looks so washed out compared to 3DS version. I wonder if there is still a chance for some Zelda Triforce Anniversary collection and Rare Replay on Switch. Addition of Sega Genesis is terrible, when the Sega Genesis Collection is for sale cheap with like 50 games, and they offer it as a part of NSO?!!!! That’s terrible.

They better do a new Banjo Kazooie soon.

@Rin-go I'm not paying because i already own them on retail carts.

Finally! I am definitely not excited as many as I already have a physical n64 so I can just buy the game already, but it will mean I can play it on the go and stuff. Also the n64 games in general will be good cos some games like paper Mario 64 are to expensive for me to buy and around £200-£400 last time I checked, but don’t quote me on that, and it will allow me to ‘trial’ the games before I buy them physically

@VIIIAxel Yep! I immediately loaded up the first game on Xbox after he was announced for Smash.

@BlueOcean They give Microsoft money, lots of money

@Would_you_kindly you can connect to any free wifi Hotspot and quickly login. It's not impossible to play NSO outside your house. C'mon chief...

@VIIIAxel Diddy Kong Racing is awesome! Play it if possible.

@Specter_of-the_OLED No, most of those key members left after Microsoft acquired Rare, not before. No, Nintendo didn't sell Rare because they didn't own Rare, they refused to buy 51% of it and sold 49% of it. Also no, Nintendo didn't help with the development of Banjo-Kazooie. Rare have explained this a lot of times, that Nintendo never took part in the development of Rare's games except for the fact that Nintendo forced Rare to turn Dinosaur Planet into Star Fox Adventures so it was a Nintendo brand and not a Rare brand.

Nintendo used Rare as an inexpensive developer that made the best N64 games. Microsoft used Rare for Kinect games, yes, a long time ago. In the beginning of the last generation they started developing and co-developing other games, including Killer Instinct 3 (as co-developer), Rare Replay, Sea of Thieves and Battletoads 2020 (as co-developer). Currently, they are doing whatever they want to do but I don't know if that's completely good: no Banjo-Kazooie, no Viva Piñata and vague Everwild project.

@BlueOcean It's definitely on my list of N64 games to track down! It'd be cool to see it come to this service eventually too, of course.

Now let's see the Battletoads games. And perfect dark.

This is huge. Opens up posibilities for Conker's Bad Fur Day and Battletoads.

Cool. Gonna play this again. Hopefully banjo tooie, dk 64 and diddy kong racing too. And also hope for bomberman hero

Nintendo own the rights to DK64 and Diddy Racing not Microsoft.

@NintendoByNature,

The original game only sold around 3 million copies, not so sure it's that big of a deal, outside of core obsessives.

@BlueOcean makes me wonder what the studio could have been if part owned by Nintendo and part owned by Xbox. Could have been very cool. Not as cool as Ultimate Play the Game of course…

@Specter_of-the_OLED they got a big fat check, which Nintendo thought was fair otherwise the transaction would not have gone through.

Microsoft don't owe them anything. But always good to see these competitors strike deals that at the end end up benefiting the gamers!

@johnvboy love the profile pic dude! I'd still say it's a fairly big deal considering banjo isn't a nintendo property anymore and so many people have been clamoring for banjo if 64 games come. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a top 3 choice for most people and the online service.

@Themagusx1 Hey troll, name just one 3D platformer from 1998 (or earlier) that is on the same level as Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. I feel you struggling and wiggling now.

@SKTTR lol Tough guy? I can name many but I won’t to a sad angry child like you. Did I hurt your feelings? How adorable….

@NintendoByNature,

I would love to play the game again, just like Pilotwings, but not so sure it's a massive deal to anyone outside of the core retro gamers etc, but as you say for fans it's massive.

Michael Myers rules, and has a now movie coming out in October.

@Themagusx1 You're so easily cornered. Cute!

Well. There you have it folks. If you wanted the best 3D platformers in 1998 there were two options: Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie.

@johnvboy yea for sure. I rented banjo a couple times as a kid but I was probably too dumb to get too far. With that said, it's been over 20 years since I've played it, and I intend to play it in its entirety this time.

I still need to watch the last Halloween that came out In 2018. I'm a huge Michael Meyers fan. Specifically bc Halloween is my favorite holiday. I'll need to watch that 2018 one before watching this next one.

I've never played Banjo and so was thrilled when I saw it in the Direct. I could easily purchase a used copy for my N64, but this will be a better experience.

@ianl579 I'm surprised there's no Pilot Wings 64 considering it was part of the OG launch lineup.

Also I'm really hoping we get Star Wars Shadows of the Empire down the line

This gives us hope that killer instinct, 007, perfect dark, conkers, and more I’m sure, might make it to the n64 library someday too.

@KIRO Well, Sea of Thieves was a rough game at launch, now it's wonderful. Play it (or watch it) on Series X and imagine a new Banjo-Kazooie game with that visual quality! And Viva Piñata, please. We need those two franchises back.

@VIIIAxel I still have this childhood cartridge. Let's not forget Diddy Kong Racing invented what many people love about Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: earth, water and air racing. I am re-playing it now (in another way) and, well, it has aged very well. Polish a little bit the camera when drifting (better than Mario Kart 64 camera anyway), upgrade the resolution and frame rate of the original and voilà. The characters are charming, the circuits are great, the music is nice, the adventure mode is fantastic and the graphics are lovely. I always thought it was one of the best-looking N64 games although no other looked better than Conker's Bad Fur Day. Unlike all Mario Kart games except Super Mario Kart and Double Dash, it requires driving skills!

A remake for Xbox and Switch is one of my dreams. The Nintendo DS version, you ask? Nah, you can ignore it.

@ianl579 and the first wave of additions is looking go

At last! Now I don't need emulators!