Toys for Bob Hints at Interest in Banjo-Kazooie Revival While Developing “Big and Ambitious” New Project
Creative Director Paul Yan says the beloved bear “has been hibernating long enough” during interview with Canadian Guy Eh. More than a year into its independence, Toys for Bob continues to stoke speculation about its next project. In a recent interview with YouTuber Canadian Guy Eh, studio head and creative director Paul Yan remained tight-lipped about the nature of their current work—but he did drop a tantalizing hint sure to stir excitement among fans of classic platformers.
Without disclosing any concrete details, Yan described the studio’s next project as “big and ambitious” and one that “pushes our craft to new heights.” While this leaves plenty of room for speculation, a playful comment during the conversation may be the most telling insight yet.
When asked which studio or franchise Toys for Bob would most like to collaborate with, Yan quickly pointed to Team Xbox and specifically name-dropped Banjo-Kazooie, the beloved Rare IP that has remained largely dormant for more than a decade.
“The honey bear is the first one that comes to mind,” Yan said. “I think we all can agree Banjo’s been hibernating long enough, right?”
While not a confirmation that the studio is working on a new Banjo-Kazooie title, the comment reinforces that the franchise is top of mind for the creative team—who previously breathed new life into Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon through critically acclaimed remasters and new entries.
Continued Collaboration with Xbox
Following its departure from Activision Blizzard in early 2024, Toys for Bob announced it would continue to collaborate with both Microsoft and Activision on its first independent project. At the time, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty emphasized that the new title would be aligned with Toys for Bob’s expertise and legacy—most notably known for 3D character platformers and colorful, family-friendly IPs.
Naturally, this has fueled fan theories that more Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, or possibly even Banjo-Kazooie could be on the horizon. The studio has not made any further public statements confirming the identity of the IP or genre.
“There’s so many [characters we’d love to work on],” Yan explained. “That’s one of the exciting new possibilities of being independent. [...] Team Xbox has a very interesting roster of characters that Toys for Bob could have a lot of fun with.”
For now, the mystery project remains in deep development. Yan confirmed that the studio is “very much in the thick of development,” meaning it could be another year or more before any official reveal.
Until then, fans can only speculate—but with comments like these and the studio’s proven track record, hopes for a Banjo-Kazooie revival or major IP continuation remain sky-high.
Would you like to see Toys for Bob revive Banjo-Kazooie? Or do you hope their next big game is something brand-new? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
