Banjo-Kazooie decompilation gives hopes to sequels, remasters, and more
Fans have officially decompiled the original Banjo-Kazooie, and PC ports and modding could lead to unofficial remasters, sequels, and more.
30th Aug 2024 15:43
Images via Rare
Banjo-Kazooie decompilation gives hopes to sequels, remasters, and more
Fans have officially decompiled the original Banjo-Kazooie, and PC ports and modding could lead to unofficial remasters, sequels, and more.
30th Aug 2024 15:43
Images via Rare
While Phil Spencer admits he knows fans want a new Banjo-Kazooie game, the Xbox overlord continues to keep the bird and bear locked up. Even though the Green Team is snoozing on retro classics, fans have taken it upon themselves to keep Banjo-Kazooie alive.
The lifespan of this dynamic duo was far too short for our liking, and following the success of the 1998 original, there was the underrated Banjo-Tooie in 2000, some Game Boy spin-offs, and the disappointing Nuts & Bolts in 2008. Aside from the pair popping up in Smash Bros. Ultimate, you'd be forgiven for forgetting the franchise exists.
Banjo-Kazooie decompilation could mean big things
All of this could be about to change, as those ever-loyal Banjo-Kazooie fans have decompiled the original game for the first time ever. As reported by VGC, the OG has reached 100% decompilation - effectively reverse-engineering the code of the Nintendo 64 classic and turning it into C code that can be converted for PC.
It's all pretty complicated and enters something of a morally grey area that we know Nintendo hates with a passion, but by creating new assets, projects like this should be able to escape copyright infringement. We've previously seen this with the likes of Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time decompilations opening new doors.
More than just swapping Banjo for Shrek on a PC version of Banjo-Kazooie, it means we can do what was previously thought impossible. We've all seen the Unreal Engine 5 fan creations of a mythical Banjo-Kazooie remaster, but now, that's become a lot more likely. After all, those constant rumours of an official series revival are going nowhere.
VGC notes that if a PC port is available, you'll have to provide your own legally sourced N64 ROM of Banjo-Kazooie. Still, ultra-wide support, improved FPS, 4K resolution, and ray tracing will be at the top of everyone's list. Beyond that, the world is our creative oyster with what we could do with the 1998 original.
With the assets of the BKverse, could we see players take it upon themselves to create a Banjo-Threeie in the style of those old N64 favourites? With rumours that Activision has canned Crash 5, there's a feeling that Microsoft doesn't know what to do with its anthropomorphic adventures from yesteryear. Don't worry, BK fans are here to save the day.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
