Smash Bros. Creator Tells Players to Play Banjo-Kazooie on Xbox

Although Nintendo and Microsoft are supposed to be rivals in the games industry, you wouldn’t know it from the way Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai talks about Banjo & Kazooie, who are joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate today. In fact, Sakurai is even encouraging players to play Banjo-Kazooie on Xbox if they can.During a Nintendo Direct post-show focused solely on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sakurai ran down the history of the character, Banjo & Kazooie. “As some of you may know the Banjo-Kazooie IP now belong to Microsoft,” Sakurai said during the presentation.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate x Banjo Kazooie

“Technically, they’re a rival platform holder. Even so, they were happy for Banjo & Kazooie to join the Super Smash Bros. series. For that I’m extremely grateful. Rare also welcomed us with open arms,” Sakurai revealed. “So, if you want to play Banjo-Kazooie today, you can do so on Xbox. I know this is a Nintendo broadcast but please give the game a try on Xbox.”

A major Nintendo director encouraging his audience to go and play a game exclusive to a rival platform is a pretty surprising move. But everything feels surprising when it comes to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Also, it’s not like Nintendo and Microsoft haven’t been working together a lot lately. Xbox titles like Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead are coming to the Nintendo Switch along with Xbox Live. And big Microsoft games like Minecraft support cross-platform play with the Nintendo Switch. So, the love Sakurai is showing Banjo-Kazooie and the Xbox is just the latest in a recent string of overtures from the two companies.

For more, check out our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review for our take on the latest crossover fighter.

Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.