(Photo : Microsoft / Screenshot taken from official website)
The developer of the "Ori" franchise, Moon Studios, believes that the new "Banjo-Kazooie" game could rival Nintendo's "3D Mario" titles in terms of sales numbers.
The studio's CEO, Thomas Mahler, posted on social media, where he shared his thoughts on the fact that Microsoft has only flirted with the idea of growing the "Banjo-Kazooie" franchise in 2008.
Potential Popularity of a New Banjo-Kazooie Game
This was with the relatively mixed-received "Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts," after which the publisher has not touched the series again. Mahler said that this was the wrong move because he believed that with the right strategy, the franchise could rival Nintendo's "3D Mario" titles on modern consoles.
The Moon Studios CEO said, "They have been sitting on 'Banjo-Kazooie' with nothing happening there even though a really talented developer could probably make a 'Banjo' game that could rival '3D Mario' and probably sell similar numbers."
Mahler also noted that Xbox currently does not have any family friendly titles that have quality that really stand out. On the other hand, Sony was able to enter the field with "Astro Bot" last year that garnered various rewards, including Game of the Year, according to Nintendo Life.
The game was considered an exceptional 3D platformer that a lot of players compared favourably to even some of Nintendo's best in history. Some people are hoping that Microsoft could be encouraged by this to try its hand at bringing another competitor for the genre.
Rivaling Nintendo's 3D Mario Games
If the publisher does decide to push through with a new "Banjo-Kazooie" game, fans wonder if it would become available on the Nintendo Switch 2 on top of Xbox consoles. Right now, there are rumors spreading that the company is looking to bring "Halo: The Master Chief Collection," "Flight Simulator," and "Diablo IV" to the console.
Mahler's comments have some weight to them as Moon Studios is known for "Ori and the Blind Forest" and "Ori and the Will of the Wisps." These are well-regarded platformers in their own right, Game Rant said.
Right now, the developer is working on a new project, an isometric action RPG named "No Rest for the Wicked." The game also had an early access release in April 2024 that continues to be improved upon by the studio.
However, Mahler's comments of the Xbox not having any family friendly titles may be a little bit off the mark. Right now, there is the "Crash Bandicoot" and "Spyro the Dragon" franchises that are some of the most beloved games series out there, according to Game Reactor.
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