The Nintendo 64 was one of the greatest consoles of all time, and I can’t imagine many gaming enthusiasts refuting that. Sure, it had its fair share of duds, but the strides in mechanical, technical, and creative innovations it took pushed the entire gaming industry forward into the golden age that we all get to enjoy today. A large contributing factor to those leaps forward were, of course, the impressive games that went on to inspire and influence a generation of developers.
A beloved Nintendo 64 game has been beautifully updated with modern graphics using the Unreal Engine. It’s fitting that a game from the generation that pioneered 3D visuals is now being reimagined with stunning, photorealistic graphics – and this is the perfect game to do it with. Longtime fans will be thrilled, and those new to the classic can now experience it in high definition.
Banjo Kazooie Has Never Looked Better
It would appear that remakes of N64 titles are becoming somewhat commonplace. We were recently treated to gameplay of the official Ocarina of Time remake, and now developer François Montagud has uploaded gameplay of his Banjo-Kazooie remake built entirely within Unreal Engine 5. One has to appreciate the photorealistic approach UE5 brings to the table in order to get the most out of what Montagud is offering, but it does look rather spectacular, even if it deviates wildly from the original game.
Montagud, in a YouTube video, stated the remake aimed to maintain the original game’s unique appeal while updating its graphics with richer details, dynamic lighting, and more vibrant scenery. He largely succeeded; although the original’s stylized look has been replaced with a more realistic approach using Unreal Engine 5, the whimsical, dreamlike quality of the Banjo-Kazooie world, along with its playful characters and level design, remain central to the experience.
Remakes always divide opinions, and this one is no different – some early reactions online have been critical. We’ve seen this before with updated versions of classics like Halo and Star Fox, where fans often feel something special is lost in the process. Still, Banjo-Kazooie is such a beloved and influential N64 game that trying to recreate it with modern technology makes sense. However, there’s one small issue with this remake that some fans might not be happy about.
Xbox Currently Owns The Rights To This IP
This isn’t an official game release, just a personal project created by a fan. It won’t be available to play, and will only serve as a showcase of the creator’s skills. It’s disappointing, especially given how protective some companies are of their properties when it comes to remakes. Currently, there are no indications that Xbox plans to release an official Banjo-Kazooie remake or a new game in the series, and they haven’t been forthcoming with information about it.
Man, it’s been ages since we last saw a new Banjo-Kazooie game – almost twenty years, since 2008! Xbox hasn’t said a word about bringing the series back, which is frustrating. The original creators, Rare, are still owned by Xbox, but their latest project, Everwild, got canceled, and they don’t seem to be working on anything new right now, at least not publicly. I even read an interview with Xbox’s Matt Booty on Games Radar, and when asked about Banjo-Kazooie, he basically said anything could happen, which isn’t exactly reassuring! As a fan, I’m really hoping they revisit this classic series someday.
We’re fortunate to have a strong foundation with our own game studios and publishing teams. This allows us to collaborate with fantastic partners like Kojima Productions, as well as numerous other talented third-party developers. Our ID@Xbox program also brings in a lot of promising studios at various stages of game development. We’re constantly exploring all the possibilities this combination offers.
Honestly, it’s looking like the incredible Banjo-Kazooie project Montagud made is as close as we’ll get to a full remake – it’s amazing, but it’s mostly just a cool gameplay video. Of course, there’s still a chance Xbox could make a new Banjo-Kazooie game someday, once they’ve figured out what they’re doing with their own game development. I’m really hoping that when they do, the developers – whether it’s Rare or someone else – can take inspiration from Montagud’s stunning UE5 version while still keeping that classic, timeless look of the original N64 game. It’d be the perfect blend!
2026-07-29 19:20