A new Banjo-Kazooie game wasn’t announced during the Microsoft E3 2019 event today, despite rumors that a brand new entry in the platforming series would make its way to Xbox One.
It had previously been speculated that a brand new Banjo-Kazooie platforming game would be revealed by Microsoft during its E3 event, with a known leaker suggesting that an announcement would be made at some point today. However, that wasn’t to be the case, with Banjo once again being overlooked by the company that owns the license to the series.
Rare created the series back in the days of the Nintendo 64, with Microsoft eventually acquiring the legendary UK development studio. While Rare has since been hard at work on the popular multiplayer pirate game Sea of Thieves, Banjo fans have held out hope that the developer would one day return to its most popular series.
However, that wasn’t to be the case. Not only was Rare not present to announce a new Banjo-Kazooie game, but it also didn’t make an appearance to discuss Sea of Thieves. Considering that many were expecting Rare would provide an update on its sea-faring game, the studio was notably absent from Microsoft’s offering this year.
But there’s still time for Banjo to make an appearance at this year’s E3. Even if a brand new Banjo-Kazooie game likely isn’t on the cards, there’s still a possibility that the duo will pop up during the Nintendo Direct next week. Banjo has long been rumored as a DLC playable character in Smash Bros Ultimate, and if the rumors regarding his E3 appearance are correct, a Smash cameo would be one of few options still available following the Xbox E3 event.
Banjo fans will need to keep all their fingers and toes crossed in the meantime, and we’ll have to wait and see if the mascot pops up in Nintendo’s E3 presentation on Tuesday.
