The spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie is getting a remaster for PC, as hopes mount for a Banjo reboot at the Xbox Games Showcase.
In a surprise announcement ahead of Summer Game Fest, Yooka-Laylee is getting an official remaster, with various visual and gameplay improvements.
Developed by Playtonic, the original Yooka-Laylee was a platformer which was designed as a spiritual successor to Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie series – with many of the team being former Rare employees. It was followed by the better-received 2D spin-off, Yooka-Laylee And The Impossible Lair, in 2019.
Playtonic is returning to the series once again for Yooka-Replaylee, which is described as the ‘definitive remastered and enhanced version’ of the original 3D platformer.
This new version boasts revamped art and animations, along with improvements to performance and resolution. The game’s controls and camera have also been overhauled, while a new coin currency has been added which can be collected and spent at sentient vending machines.
Playtonic is promising new and remixed challenges, along with a new world map and challenges tracker, so you can better manage what needs to be completed.
The original score by Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, best known for the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country soundtracks, respectively, have also been given an orchestral makeover.
‘Yooka-Replaylee is the culmination of almost 10 years of experience since we’ve founded Playtonic in way way back in 2015!’ a Q&A from the developers reads.
‘We’ve taken on board all the community feedback as well as channelling everything we’ve learned while working on other projects to make this the definitive version of Yooka-Laylee. It’s more than a remaster!’
Yooka-Replaylee has only been announced for PC so far, with no release date, but Playtonic says they will release ‘more news about any console plans later’.
The announcement of a return from Banjo-Kazooie’s spiritual successor comes just before the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, where hopes abound that Microsoft could revive Rare’s mascot in some form.
Some have taken a tweet from WindowsCentral’s Jez Corden to be a tease of a potential Banjo-Kazooie game at the event: ‘Low key wanna learn how to play the banjo.’ Although it sounds like he’s simply poking the bear, so to speak.
Rumours of a new Banjo-Kazooie have circulated for years, but Microsoft has barely done anything with the IP. Aside from 2008’s Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, the pair’s only other notable appearance since has been as a crossover fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
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