Toys for Bob, the studio behind the Spyro and Crash Bandicoot reboots, is setting its sights on another classic franchise: Banjo-Kazooie. This news comes from a recent interview with co-studio head Paul Yan where he shared their aspirations to work with Xbox on bringing back the iconic duo.
No one’s been doing more to breathe new life into mascot platformers than Toys for Bob. Since 2018, this talented studio has released hits like the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4, and Crash Team Rumble. Each title has rejuvenated two franchises, sitting quietly for far too long. Paul Yan hints at future projects that could include a new installment in the favorite series featuring Banjo and Kazooie.
During his chat with YouTuber CanadianGuyEh, which Windows Central reported, Yan expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Xbox again. He stated, “One company we’d like to work with is one we’re already working with–Team Xbox! They’ve been a great partner and have an exciting roster of characters with which Toys for Bob could have a lot of fun. The honey bear is the first one that comes to mind—I think we can all agree Banjo’s been hibernating long enough, right?” This cheeky comment raises hope among fans who fondly remember our bear-and-bird heroes.
This doesn’t imply that a new remake or reboot of Banjo-Kazooie is officially in development; however, considering Toys for Bob’s past accomplishments and ongoing ties with Xbox makes it seem more possible than ever. After breaking away from Activision earlier this year, they’ve kept close ties with Microsoft while working on what some speculate could be an upcoming project related to Spyro—the much-rumored Spyro 4.
Yan teased fans, saying he “can’t reveal just yet,” but assured everyone that development was moving smoothly: “I will say that we’re very much in the thick of development. The team is very excited about how the experience is shaping up. This game is big and ambitious and pushes our craft to new heights.” Sounds interesting!
The journey hasn’t always been easy for Toys for Bob; before their independence from Activision, they supported development on Call of Duty games instead of focusing on their signature whimsical platformers. Former senior concept artist Nicholas Kole revealed that plans for a fifth installment in Crash were scrapped when many employees were laid off as part of Microsoft’s major layoffs earlier this year.
The future looks promising, though! Players are eager to see if this sparks renewed interest in other classic characters.
