The Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase is just a day away and has mostly done a good job of avoiding major leaks. It's unclear what will be showcased at the event, though Xbox fans have high hopes of seeing many major franchises. One reveal that few likely would have expected is Banjo-Kazooie, Rare's 3D platforming series that started in 1998 on the Nintendo 64. Yet according to the latest Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase rumor, a Banjo-Kazooie reveal is exactly what will be delivered.The rumor comes from a surprising source. Dimitris Giannakis, better known by his online monicker ModernVintageGamer, is a developer at Nightdive Studios. Giannakis recently participated in the Nate the Hate podcast, during which he shared news regarding a new Banjo-Kazooie in development. Giannakis explains that he's heard things from multiple different people confirming that a Banjo-Kazooie-related announcement is planned to be "soon."Whether the Banjo-Kazooie announcement will be made during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase isn't clear, however. Giannakis explains that he feels "pretty strongly" the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase is where the announcement will be made, but hasn't explicitly been told that. It's more than he's been told the announcement is coming several times for months. As confident as Giannakis may be, he does make clear that he's a developer and not an insider. Sharing this kind of information isn't necessarily in his wheelhouse.
Banjo-Kazooie has been absent from the gaming space for some time. The last major game release in the franchise was Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, which launched in 2008. That doesn't mean that Banjo-Kazooie has disappeared from the culture, however. Nintendo partnered with Microsoft to bring Banjo-Kazooie to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a fighter in 2018, showing that the series remains relevant even without any modern game releases.
Several retro genres have seen a modern resurgence lately, including the 3D platformer. Crash Bandicoot and Spyro have both seen re-releases, as an example. That could have indicated to Microsoft that there was an opportunity for Banjo-Kazooie to be brought back. Alternatively, it's possible that something new will be done with the franchise.
Xbox fans should absolutely keep their expectations in check in regard to this rumor. While the source seems confident in it, there's absolutely no corroboration for it. There's been no meaningful industry discourse surrounding even the possibility of Banjo-Kazooie coming back. And even Grant Kirkhope, the composer for Banjo-Kazooie, says they don't believe it. As far as rumors go, though, it's exciting to consider even the possibility of Banjo-Kazooie coming back.