Banjo-Kazooie’s Switch Online Release Date Announced With Trailer

It has been officially announced that Banjo-Kazooie will be coming to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack later this month, with a release date confirmed in a trailer from Nintendo. Developer Rare Limited’s action-adventure platforming video game series gained critical acclaim when it premiered with its first game, Banjo-Kazooie, in 1998. The original game was so popular with fans that it led to three sequels and even a spin-off racing game. The most recent game in the series was released over a decade ago, and fans are still hoping for an all-new Banjo-Kazooie game.

The bear-bird duo have appeared in other projects, to the delight of fans. Both Banjo and Kazooie appeared in Nintendo’s fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but fans are still hoping for a new mainline adventure for the characters. There has previously been speculation over whether the classic game would make an appearance on one of Nintendo’s more recent consoles. In late 2020, Nintendo’s release schedule for 2020/2021 included Banjo-Kazooie for the Wii U Virtual Console. The Japanese publisher later removed the listing and released a statement saying that the game was included by mistake. Though Nintendo denied Banjo-Kazooie’s release for the Wii U, the game is available on Xbox consoles.

As confirmed by Nintendo in a new trailer, Banjo-Kazooie will be available for all Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members later this week on January 20. The nostalgic video shows off Banjo and Kazooie in action, teasing some of the adventures in store for those who have never played the game. The title will be available digitally for those with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, but won’t be included as part of the base NSO package.

Watch the trailer on YouTube here.

As Banjo-Kazooie was published by Nintendo for the N64, it’s not surprising that the game has made its way to the Switch. However, it is interesting since the Banjo-Kazooie franchise is technically owned by Microsoft due to the software giant acquiring Rare in 2002. In April of last year, Microsoft added Banjo-Kazooie to Xbox Game Pass for Android devices, meaning subscribers were able to play the 1998 game from the cloud using just their phone and not a controller, offering a handheld experience similar to the Switch. For now, it seems that both Nintendo and Microsoft have struck a deal where the platform game can now appear on Nintendo’s console.

As Banjo-Kazooie fans look to Rare for another mainline sequel to the beloved series, at least fans can replay the first game on Nintendo Switch. The game is one of many planned to come to the service in the coming weeks and months, with Nintendo previously confirming classic N64 games like Zelda: Majora’s Mask and the original Pokémon Snap are also planned for Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

Sources: Nintendo/YouTube

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