Banjo-Kazooie Fan Finishes Decompilation Project

Banjo-Kazooie Fan Finishes Decompilation Project

Key Takeaways

  • 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.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia when I hear about the Banjo-Kazooie decompilation project. Back in the day, I remember spending countless hours playing this iconic platformer on my trusty Nintendo 64. The thought that fans are not only preserving this classic game for future generations but also potentially creating an unofficial PC port is nothing short of amazing.


As an ardent enthusiast of the legendary game, Banjo-Kazooie, I’ve embarked on a remarkable journey: deciphering and disassembling the entire Nintendo 64 masterpiece! The process of decompiling a gem like Banjo-Kazoozie isn’t just about playing it backwards; it entails meticulously reverse-engineering all its code, transforming it into C code that can be recompiled into a playable PC version. This DIY endeavor allows fans to relish their own copy of the game on their computers without needing an emulator.

It’s not unprecedented that a Nintendo 64 (N64) game gets decompiled; in fact, two enthusiasts reverse-engineered “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” as far back as 2021. To clarify, when we say “reverse engineering,” it doesn’t mean stealing or using the game assets. Instead, it means deciphering the underlying code. For those who aspire to create an unauthorized PC version, they would need their own copies of the game to make it function properly.

According to Twitter user BringBackBanjoK, a fan-created disassembly of the classic game Banjo-Kazooie has been completed. This could pave the way for an unofficial PC version of the game. As seen with a similar project for Ocarina of Time (released as “Ship of Harkinian”), a two-year-old fan-made PC port, players need to have their own copy of the original game to play it. The PC version also supports mods, offering additional enjoyment for gamers. Impressively, some fans have even remade the game entirely using Unreal Engine 5.

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

In recent times, the video game Banjo-Kazooie has received some attention from Xbox. The character Banjo made an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as far back as 2019, and all previous Banjo games were re-released on Xbox consoles. Ever since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for a new installment of Banjo-Kazooie, but unfortunately, no announcements about a new game have been made yet.

Despite devoted fans of the game “Banjo-Kazooie” continuing their creative endeavors, it’s been quite a while since a new Banjo title has been in active development. During an episode of the XB2+1 Podcast in July, a reputable Xbox insider, Jez Corden, debunked rumors of a new game being underway. This refutation followed Parris Lilly’s argument on the same show about how Xbox could benefit from developing more family-friendly games like Astro Bot on PlayStation or Mario on Nintendo. Corden did mention that there might be plans for a new Banjo game in the future, but at present, Xbox has no such projects in motion.

Read More

2024-08-30 22:07