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DEBUNKED: Playtonic Games (developers of the Yooka-Laylee series) might be joining Xbox Game Studios and/or working on a new Banjo-Kazooie game
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It would be a weird development with some of them leaving Rare to create Playtonic and do mascot platformers and then being bought (again) to do the same. It would instantly make me prefer Microsoft's first party to Sony's, though Nintendo would still reign supreme as far as my tastes are concerned. I love both Yooka games and have no doubt they'd be the right pick to do Banjo.
That said I kinda hope they stay independent and it's more like a one (or few) time(s) deal if it happens. That would be perfect and ensure their independence in case Microsoft suddenly pivots in a new direction or have a change in leadership that isn't interested in doing the type of games they're obviously passionate about.
That said I kinda hope they stay independent and it's more like a one (or few) time(s) deal if it happens. That would be perfect and ensure their independence in case Microsoft suddenly pivots in a new direction or have a change in leadership that isn't interested in doing the type of games they're obviously passionate about.
To add to this, a while back Playtonic tweeted that they are working on something but were "not ready to break their NDA just yet". Not long after that the new YL was announced but would they need to say NDA if it was about their own IP? They could have said working on our next game but not ready to announce just yet. Also, YL and the impossible lair is the kind of game that Rare were renown for and started on it immediately after the first game, did they really need the entire team the entire time to develop it or could a second team have been working on something else at the same time or once the bulk of the work was done?
If they are working on a new Banjo Kazooie (which I really hope they are, especially with the reactions from their smash inclusion) they already have a ton of feedback from the first YL to improve upon with a budget from MS.
I also remember that a banjo kazooie 3 was written and started development a while back but that was cancelled and replaced with nuts and bolts. Could they just revive that story?
If they are working on a new Banjo Kazooie (which I really hope they are, especially with the reactions from their smash inclusion) they already have a ton of feedback from the first YL to improve upon with a budget from MS.
I also remember that a banjo kazooie 3 was written and started development a while back but that was cancelled and replaced with nuts and bolts. Could they just revive that story?
that's true, but it also means microsoft could change again. who's to say the future leadership of microsoft/xbox won't change Spencer's strategy
I could definitely see a partnership between the two to work on a Banjo game, but an acquisition doesn't make sense imo.
From Playtonic's side, why be bought be the company that made you want to leave (albeit MS leadership has changed for the better)?
From MS' side, why buy up people that may very well up and leave again, especially when the only IP they have is a knock-off of one you already own?
From Playtonic's side, why be bought be the company that made you want to leave (albeit MS leadership has changed for the better)?
From MS' side, why buy up people that may very well up and leave again, especially when the only IP they have is a knock-off of one you already own?
Microsoft has basically unlimited funds, they also don't mind putting their games on the Nintendo Switch and of course PC, so I'm all for a bigger budget to this studio, give talented studios more money, and freedom to create unique and fun games like this. I think it can only be a good thing. I think they wouldn't even mind bringing some games like this to Sony's platform too, even if Sony and Nintendo get the titles much later.
Microsoft seems to be more interested in building the services and branding of Xbox and their related gaming services like Xcloud, than they are in competing directly with at least Nintendo anymore, and I'm all for that.
Microsoft seems to be more interested in building the services and branding of Xbox and their related gaming services like Xcloud, than they are in competing directly with at least Nintendo anymore, and I'm all for that.
Holy this so much seriously this would be for me a reason if its truly Banjo 3 a reason to buy an xbox next gen
The software never seems to be a great fit for the platform tbf.
Something is 100% happening. New Banjo would be a cool turn of events! Would be surprised if it is more than a partnership.
I think this would be cool if Microsoft have changed and are less controlling and more allowing of studios to act somewhat independent.
If they were purchased it would allow the the like of Gregg Mayles and anyone else still at Rare from the N64 days to have a hand (or even lead) development on a new Banjo game made by Playtonic (if they wanted to).
This would give Playtonic access to a lot more resources (money, QA, tech and whatever else) allowing them to build some "bigger" games and Microsoft would get more games to put on their Game Pass service.
Plus more 2.5D Yooka Laylee games and another 3D platform Banjo Kazooie game would be good.
If they were purchased it would allow the the like of Gregg Mayles and anyone else still at Rare from the N64 days to have a hand (or even lead) development on a new Banjo game made by Playtonic (if they wanted to).
This would give Playtonic access to a lot more resources (money, QA, tech and whatever else) allowing them to build some "bigger" games and Microsoft would get more games to put on their Game Pass service.
Plus more 2.5D Yooka Laylee games and another 3D platform Banjo Kazooie game would be good.
How many copies did Yooka-Laylee sell divided by platforms? Maybe this is just my bias from being on the internet too much, but it feels like Yooka-Laylee was especially loved by Nintendo fans? Doesn't Microsoft seem like a mismatch? This is all assumptions though so I could be completely wrong
I wouldn't look at that game to get a sense of what Playtonic is capable of. The first Yooka-Laylee was held back by the fact that they were still building their team while they were making the game. The Impossible Lair is a much better game, and gives me hope for the studio's future.
Some kind of agreement would be required between Playtonic and Microsoft so they can license the Banjo-Kazooie IP (and possibly others).
not in every case? and who's to say his replacement couldn't change direction, even if he was hand picked by Spencer? corporations operate to extract the maximum profit, not to carry on their predecessor's legacy or whatever
Well then, you've not been listening. It may not be Playtonic, but MS are full steam ahead on a acquisition spree purely for Gamepass.
Said it before, I'll say it again: it would make so much sense if Playtonic worked on Rare IPs like Banjo. Rare wants to work on new IPs and they'd stop getting annoyed by people who want them to do what they did 20 years ago. Fans want new Banjo and such. Playtonic is literally making pretend Rare games without owning the IPs - and they're good games. Microsoft could do with some exclusive retro platformer for their Game Pass. And also Playtonic could probably use that Microsoft money for more stability and bigger budget on their games, as the main issues with YL clearly came from budget limitations.
It's a dream scenario, so hopefully it's true.
It's a dream scenario, so hopefully it's true.
The overworld in Impossible Lair was so much more "Banjo-like" to me than anything in the original Yooka Laylee, just in the terms of aesthetics and playability. I absolutely love Impossible Lair, and Playtonic being give the license develop a new Banjo would literally be the greatest gaming news for me in years.
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that might be true, but as evident by MS's past several acquisitions, they seem to be wanting to fill holes in their roster and lineup so they have more diversity in their first party games. it'll be pointless if they were just after racing/FPS/TPS studios. they want to change people's perception so they've gone after double fine (platformer and adventure games), obsidian and inxile (western RPGs), compulsion and ninja theory (narrative driven single player games), etc. it might seem like a mismatch now but they'll serve their purpose later.
Kinda shows a lot of incompetence of microsoft. they had these guys once, wouldn't let them make the games they wanted to so they left to do that
I guess you would hope Phil wouldn't be stupid enough to let the situation repeat itself, but they would basically be paying money to lure people back who left to do their own thing. MS own Banjo Kazooie so the YL IP is not really that meaningful here
I guess you would hope Phil wouldn't be stupid enough to let the situation repeat itself, but they would basically be paying money to lure people back who left to do their own thing. MS own Banjo Kazooie so the YL IP is not really that meaningful here
That's a very good point, I agree.
Plus I suppose it could be a good idea to go after Playtonic while they're still relatively small and cheap.
I personally dont want this, makes no sense to pick up ex-Rare employees, and Rare still have serious talent with Gregg to begin his own Banjo game (if its for that reason).
Rather MS buy/create JP studio! But secretly i want them to snatch Rocksteady from WB by throwing money at them and licence (not exclusively) the DC IP.
Rather MS buy/create JP studio! But secretly i want them to snatch Rocksteady from WB by throwing money at them and licence (not exclusively) the DC IP.
i don't know. i almost wonder if Microsoft would merge them back into Rare but as a separate working division, like Rockstar North and Rockstar SD. it would strike me as odd to have Banjo 4 made by not-Rare Rare while the other Rare but-not-really-Rare makes other games, almost like an admission that Rare is just a name and isn't really tied to that history in any real way anymore
It would certainly be weird as they'd essentially hire a ton of people who left Rare/Microsoft to work on something independently again, but on the other hand it would make total sense for Playtonic from a financial standpoint. Impossible Lair is an amazing game and so much better than the original Yooka-Laylee, but despite really good reviews it looks like it completely bombed, unfortunately.
The notion that Rare should forever be associated with a stretch of games they released in the late 90s is kind of silly tbh. Viva Pinata, Kinect Sports and Sea of Thieves are as much Rare games as DKC, KI, Goldeneye and Banjo were.
Giving DH and IG the reins to KI and Dlala the reins to BT didn't reduce Rare's "Rareness", and I don't think Playtonic working on Banjo would do that either.
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Studios move on from properties all the time, or just parts of it. The main people behind Medal Of Honor moved formed a different studio and made Call Of Duty, then later created another one and moved again to make Titanfall. Epic moved on from Gears Of War but the franchise exists still, same goes for Bungie and Halo. Rare has never been interested in making 500 identical sequels to games, so they tend to make a sequel and 1-2 spin-offs at best usually, that's about it. They've put it quite bluntly more than once: they're more interested in chasing new game experiences rather than doing Banjo-Kazooie 15. Playtonic on the other hand is full of people who worked on games like Banjo, who absolutely want to work on games like Banjo, and there's fan demand for it too, with the character's visibility definitely improved by the Smash appearance.
Microsoft doesn't necessarily need to own Playtonic to give 'em a Banjo project (see that "second party" deal for Blair Witch), and even if they were to buy them it doesn't mean they're showing Rare's uselessness. Sea Of Thieves is one of the multiplayer phenomenons of these past 2 years or so, millions of people played it. They're fine, they can be a great studio even if Banjo is done elsewhere.
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So they'd leave rare so they could finally go back to make the games they wanted which just wouldn't happen under Microsoft...
Only to end up back under Microsoft?
I must be misinterpreting this speculation because surely not.
Unless it's just working with the banjo IP
Only to end up back under Microsoft?
I must be misinterpreting this speculation because surely not.
Unless it's just working with the banjo IP
I also just remembered reading somewhere that YL and the impossible lair was male or break as the studio was running out of funds. This is why they moved over to the new project very quickly and why it is taking such a long time to release the promised DLC for the original game.
Now however, they are staffing up again and just put YL on Gamepass. Something has to be happening or this is a huge coincidence!
Now however, they are staffing up again and just put YL on Gamepass. Something has to be happening or this is a huge coincidence!
That's the problem. Nintendo is being sad af. This is a great opportunity to have a DK studio, especially if Playtonic didn't mind being bought by Microsoft in the end. It's a great studio with great people.
Xbox, PC and xCloud. There is no need to worry about a need for an audience, it's there already.
Major respect to the original devs of Banjo, but their previous two games left a lot to be desired. I'd rather someone else make a Banjo game
Some people want Microsoft to buy every company it seems like.
sure.
1. the banjo series is a niche franchise with a very dedicated following. fans expect quality entries, this is already bad because you have to invest a lot in a game with a limited sales potential. One of the reasons why Nintendo doesn't bother with F-Zero anymore or shelved Metroid for a while.
2. now you bring in a third party developer who doesn't have the ressources or personel to deliver said high quality title and you have to split the revenue with them or aquire them. furthermore, the dev in question hasn't exactly proven to be a worthy acquisition and acquisition are very expensive
3. if you half ass it you risk tarnishing a franchise forever and it's very bad PR for MS.
it's a lot of risk for very little gain.
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that's a discussion for another thread, but when you see nintendo doesn't have any interest in buying any studios, even those who they've worked with for decades, i don't think playtonic would be anywhere on their radar.
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