Playtonic Games just released the 2.5D platformer, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, which, unlike its predecessor, received far more positive reviews. It seems now the England-based developer is gearing up for its next game, which some fans are speculating to be a new Banjo-Kazooie game. This speculation comes after a series of tweets that fans believe are hinting at Microsoft bringing the gang back together for a new Banjo-Kazooie game.

Firstly, just yesterday, the Yooka-Laylee developers announced that the Banjo-Kazooie character artist Ed Bryan had joined their team. Bryan left RARE in 2011, and now, with his inclusion, Playtonic Games has all the character artists behind the Banjo-Kazooie games.

The speculation Playtonic and Microsoft are working together on something really kicked off when Bryan tweeted (on Nov. 3rd, 2019) an image of a bag with Microsoft branding, and then responded to a user who asked about the bag by saying, “It’s come out of retirement!”.

There are a couple of more things that heighten this speculation. Gavin Price, co-owner, studio, and game director at Playtonic Games, recently added this to his Linkedin profile:

Playtonic Credits

Yooka-Laylee, Yooka-Laylee & The Impossible Lair, and in the foreseeable future that game #3, #4, and the #5 one too, which is the one I always thought would be game #1.

Lastly, we have the news of Playtonic updating its registered company name in the UK to “PLAYTONIC GAMES DEVELOPMENT LIMITED” without any explanation on Sept. 17th, 2019.

All these speculations are pointing towards Playtonic and Microsoft, at the very least, working on something. What do you think of the Yooka-Laylee developers joining Xbox Game Studios and/or working on a new Banjo-Kazooie game?

Update‌

Playtonic Games (on Nov. 6th, 2019) has debunked the speculation.

Via: ResetEra