Blaze Entertainment has published a developer deep-dive detailing the studio’s work to bring Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie to its Evercade family of systems.
The company says both titles were rebuilt for the platform using the original 64-bit console code as a starting point, and the resulting releases will be distributed as a Banjo double pack and bundled with the upcoming Evercade Nexus handheld.
Background and platform context
Banjo-Kazooie (originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998) and its sequel Banjo-Tooie (2000) are cornerstone 3D platformers from Rare.
Blaze’s video demonstrates the team’s intent to remain faithful to those original N64 versions while taking advantage of modern development techniques to improve presentation and performance on Evercade hardware.
The footage highlights running builds on the Evercade Nexus, which Blaze notes benefits from a higher-resolution display compared with the existing Evercade EXP.
Paraphrased developer statement
Blaze project manager Chris Deckard explained that the new releases were constructed specifically for Evercade systems using the original 64-bit console code as a foundation.
He said the team struck a careful balance between delivering an experience authentic to the originals and applying modern improvements so the games “look and play better than ever.” Deckard added that advances in game development over the past two decades were leveraged to produce what Blaze describes as the best official versions of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie available in 2026.
Release details and availability
Blaze has opened pre-orders for the Banjo-Kazooie double pack at price points listed as £24.99 / £29.99 / $29.99.
The company also confirmed that the double pack will be included with the Evercade Nexus handheld.
The Evercade Nexus is scheduled to launch on October 30, 2026.
What this means for Evercade owners
For collectors and retro handheld enthusiasts, these ports represent a notable effort to bring N64-era classics to a modern retro platform with attention to fidelity and display enhancements.
Blaze’s documentation of the process provides concrete details about the technical approach and the company’s goals for authenticity and improvement.
The company says both titles were rebuilt for the platform using the original 64-bit console code as a starting point, and the resulting releases will be distributed as a Banjo double pack and bundled with the upcoming Evercade Nexus handheld.
Background and platform context
Banjo-Kazooie (originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998) and its sequel Banjo-Tooie (2000) are cornerstone 3D platformers from Rare.
Blaze’s video demonstrates the team’s intent to remain faithful to those original N64 versions while taking advantage of modern development techniques to improve presentation and performance on Evercade hardware.
The footage highlights running builds on the Evercade Nexus, which Blaze notes benefits from a higher-resolution display compared with the existing Evercade EXP.
Paraphrased developer statement
Blaze project manager Chris Deckard explained that the new releases were constructed specifically for Evercade systems using the original 64-bit console code as a foundation.
He said the team struck a careful balance between delivering an experience authentic to the originals and applying modern improvements so the games “look and play better than ever.” Deckard added that advances in game development over the past two decades were leveraged to produce what Blaze describes as the best official versions of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie available in 2026.
Release details and availability
Blaze has opened pre-orders for the Banjo-Kazooie double pack at price points listed as £24.99 / £29.99 / $29.99.
The company also confirmed that the double pack will be included with the Evercade Nexus handheld.
The Evercade Nexus is scheduled to launch on October 30, 2026.
What this means for Evercade owners
For collectors and retro handheld enthusiasts, these ports represent a notable effort to bring N64-era classics to a modern retro platform with attention to fidelity and display enhancements.
Blaze’s documentation of the process provides concrete details about the technical approach and the company’s goals for authenticity and improvement.
