Summary

  • A Banjo-Kazooie fan decompiled the N64 game into C code, allowing for playable PC versions with assets from players' own copies.
  • Banjo-Kazooie isn't the first N64 game to be decompiled.
  • No official new Banjo-Kazooie games have been announced at the time of this writing.

A Banjo-Kazooie fan has decompiled the entirety of the Nintendo 64 game. Decompilation of a title like Banjo-Kazoozie involves reverse-engineering all the code for the game and turning it into C code, which can then be compiled into a playable PC version. This allows fans to use the assets from their own copy of the game to play Banjo-Kazooie without an emulator on their computer.

This isn’t the first time a N64 game has been decompiled, as two fans reverse engineered Ocarina of Time back in 2021. Reverse engineering the code of a game doesn’t involve any actual assets being ripped. Players who want to compile an unofficial PC port would have to provide their own obtained copies of the game in order to get it to run.

A modder has created a crossover between Banjo Kazooie and the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
New Mod Crosses Over Banjo-Kazooie and Zelda: The Wind Waker

A renowned Nintendo 64 modder creates the ultimate crossover between two beloved franchises with Banjo-Kazooie: The Bear Waker Deluxe.

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As Twitter user BringBackBanjoK pointed out, a fan-made decompilation of Banjo-Kazooie has been finished. An unofficial PC port could potentially be in the works thanks to this project. A fan-made PC port for Ocarina of Time was made from a similar project. Released under the name "Ship of Harkinian," the port was released two years ago and is playable so long as players provide their own copy of the game. The unofficial PC port even allows for mods, which can add another layer of fun for players. Some fans have even recreated the game from scratch in Unreal Engine 5.

Banjo-Kazooie Decompilation Project Will Allow Unofficial PC Ports to Be Made

Banjo-Kazooie has seen some love from Xbox in recent years. Banjo was featured in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate back in 2019, and Xbox re-released all the Banjo games on Xbox consoles. Since then, fans have been clamoring for a new Banjo-Kazooie game, but none have been announced.

Even though fans of Banjo-Kazooie are still working on passion projects, a new Banjo game has not been in development for some time. On an episode of the XB2+1 Podcast back in July, a well-known Xbox insider, Jez Corden, denied that a new game was in development. This came after Parris Lilly, a guest on the show, made a case as to why Xbox should be investing in Banjo to create more family-friendly titles like Astro Bot on PlayStation or Mario on Nintendo. Corden did clarify that a new Banjo game could potentially be in the works in the future, but Xbox has no plans at this time.

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Banjo-Kazooie Tag Page Cover Art

Banjo-Kazooie
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3D Platformer
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Systems
Xbox-1
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Released
June 28, 1998
ESRB
E for Everyone
Developer(s)
Rare
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
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Banjo-Kazooie
5 Images
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie gameplay
Banjo-Kazooie N64 Banjo Standing In A Field
Banjo & Kazooie during the opening cutscene of Banjo-Kazooie for N64
banjo-kazooie box art
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

The bear and bird's first ever outing available in full. Loads of rollicking fun to be had here and with the legendary Stop N Swop feature reinstated. You’ll never look the same again at a jigsaw. There are no refunds for this item

Platform(s)
N64, Xbox 360
Genre(s)
3D Platformer
How Long To Beat
11 Hours
File Size Xbox Series
576 MB (November 2023)