Xbox Studio Rare "Immensely Pleased" About Banjo-Kazooie's Arrival On Switch

It was a bittersweet moment yesterday when Banjo-Kazooie arrived on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack service.

As fantastic as it is to see the UK developer's iconic duo return to a Nintendo platform after so long. It's now been nearly 20 years since Rare was acquired by Microsoft, and almost 24 since the original Banjo-Kazooie game was released on the N64, if you're counting.

Leigh Loveday, a writer and designer who joined Rare in the '90s, has used the game's Switch Online release to reflect on the company's Nintendo era - noting how Rare was "immensely pleased" that it could team up with its old pal once more to bring the bird and bear to a new Nintendo generation:

"The question of classic Rare games resurfacing for a Switch audience is one that people have been asking for a long time, so we're immensely pleased that we could work with Nintendo to bring the bear and bird to this platform."

And in case you're wondering, the Switch version is the N64 "original" as many will remember it:

"In the spirit of preserving the game exactly as it was alongside the other titles available, this version of Banjo-Kazooie is the Nintendo 64 original as you remember it. And if you grew up in a later console generation, well, we're looking forward to a whole new wave of gamers getting turned into a washing machine by Mumbo Jumbo, scrambling away from Snacker the shark and facing Grunty's Furnace Fun for the very first time."

In addition to the kind words shared over on the Rare blog, here are some other messages shared by Rare and some of the team members who worked on Banjo-Kazooie:

With bear and bird out now on Switch, you've another way to bop that witch! To celebrate, we've outfitted ours with red and yellow 'con for Kazooie's plumage and Banjo's shorts respectively. Whether you're revisiting their world or it's your very first trip, we hope you have fun! pic.twitter.com/6X8neRuS73— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) January 21, 2022

Here you go! Another long lost hi res render To celebrate the release of #banjokazooie on #nintendoswitch. I think @klungo must have made it?? For possible magazine use, or something. pic.twitter.com/FTtWWMl6gg— Ed Bryan (@ItsMingyJongo) January 20, 2022

Banjo-Kazooie Talon Trotting their way onto Nintendo Switch Online today! There's an adventure to be had! pic.twitter.com/YtjH2QLtOX— Steve Mayles (@WinkySteve) January 20, 2022

The Bear and Bird back on Nintendo! Guh-Huh, Breeeeeeeee!!! https://t.co/qR3fqJSVUw— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) January 19, 2022

Nowadays, Rare is arguably best-known for its live service Xbox and PC game Sea of Thieves. The team is also currently working on Everwild, a fantasy-like title that's shrouded in mystery.

Will you be trying out Banjo-Kazooie on Switch this weekend? What other Rare games from the N64 generation would you like to see make a return to Nintendo's hybrid platform? Tell us down below.