In a notable move for retro gaming, Rare and Blaze are packaging Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie together on a single Evercade cartridge set to launch in October 2026.
The Banjo titles, originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and 2000 respectively, will arrive on the Evercade family of systems with enhancements that Blaze says go beyond a standard emulation release.
Blaze CEO Andrew Byatt told FRVR, in reporting relayed by VGC, that the collaboration with Rare was unusually hands-on.
He said the teams working on the project showed strong enthusiasm and attention to detail, contributing small authenticity touches for the final product rather than simply signing off and walking away.
Byatt explained that Blaze encounters a range of licensor engagement across projects, from minimal involvement to highly collaborative efforts.
For the Banjo double pack, he described Rare as deeply involved behind the scenes, investing time and energy to test and approve changes to ensure the release meets their standards.
A major technical advantage for this release is access to the original source code for both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie.
Byatt noted that source availability is rare and substantially simplifies the porting process; when source is unavailable, Blaze has previously had to reverse-engineer code from assembly, which can add nine to twelve months to development.
With source code, Blaze could implement higher-fidelity conversions and quality-control checks more efficiently.
Blaze has followed a similar porting approach on earlier Evercade projects such as Glover and Duke Nukem 1 and 2.
Byatt indicated that more porting-focused projects are in Blaze's pipeline, emphasizing the companys continued investment in curated retro releases.
Separately, the first Banjo game is already available pre-loaded on the Rare Super Pocket handheld, a device compatible with Evercade cartridges.
Blaze is also preparing a new Evercade model for 2026 called the Nexus, which features a larger display, dual analogue sticks, and the ability to share games with other Evercade owners.
For collectors and retro enthusiasts, the October 2026 Evercade cartridge promises an officially supported way to play two of Rare's most celebrated N64 platformers, backed by direct involvement from the original developer and an emphasis on authentic, high-quality porting.
The Banjo titles, originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and 2000 respectively, will arrive on the Evercade family of systems with enhancements that Blaze says go beyond a standard emulation release.
Blaze CEO Andrew Byatt told FRVR, in reporting relayed by VGC, that the collaboration with Rare was unusually hands-on.
He said the teams working on the project showed strong enthusiasm and attention to detail, contributing small authenticity touches for the final product rather than simply signing off and walking away.
Byatt explained that Blaze encounters a range of licensor engagement across projects, from minimal involvement to highly collaborative efforts.
For the Banjo double pack, he described Rare as deeply involved behind the scenes, investing time and energy to test and approve changes to ensure the release meets their standards.
A major technical advantage for this release is access to the original source code for both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie.
Byatt noted that source availability is rare and substantially simplifies the porting process; when source is unavailable, Blaze has previously had to reverse-engineer code from assembly, which can add nine to twelve months to development.
With source code, Blaze could implement higher-fidelity conversions and quality-control checks more efficiently.
Blaze has followed a similar porting approach on earlier Evercade projects such as Glover and Duke Nukem 1 and 2.
Byatt indicated that more porting-focused projects are in Blaze's pipeline, emphasizing the companys continued investment in curated retro releases.
Separately, the first Banjo game is already available pre-loaded on the Rare Super Pocket handheld, a device compatible with Evercade cartridges.
Blaze is also preparing a new Evercade model for 2026 called the Nexus, which features a larger display, dual analogue sticks, and the ability to share games with other Evercade owners.
For collectors and retro enthusiasts, the October 2026 Evercade cartridge promises an officially supported way to play two of Rare's most celebrated N64 platformers, backed by direct involvement from the original developer and an emphasis on authentic, high-quality porting.
