Microsoft Still Willing To Let Banjo Appear In Super Smash Bros.

One of the most fun aspects surrounding any Smash Bros. release is speculating which new characters will appear in the series, and that has only flared up again with the recent announcement of Super Smash Bros. for Switch. However, fans aren't the only ones hoping their favorite characters make it into the fighter; many other game companies would also like to see their mascots added to the roster. And you can count Microsoft among the companies that would let such a crossover happen with one of its characters.

On Twitter, one fan asked Xbox boss Phil Spencer if Microsoft would still be willing to allow Banjo and Kazooie--the eponymous stars of Rare's beloved platforming series--to appear in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. game. Spencer answered with only a single word: "Yep."

Of course, Spencer's succinct reply certainly isn't confirmation that Banjo will appear in the next Smash Bros. game, or even that the character is being considered for the mascot fighter. Microsoft has said in the past that it would be open to allowing Rare's iconic bear and bird duo to appear in the series, although nothing has come of it thus far. And given how popular Smash Bros. is--as evidenced by the fan reaction when Smash Bros. Switch was announced--it's hardly surprising that any company would want to lend its characters for the game.

That said, Banjo and Kazooie certainly wouldn't be the most surprising addition to the Smash Bros. roster, especially considering the series began on a Nintendo console. Third-party characters have had a larger presence in recent Smash Bros. games, with Street Fighter's Ryu and Final Fantasy VII's Cloud among the DLC fighters added to the Wii U and 3DS installments. Snake from Metal Gear Solid was also featured in Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl, although it seems likely that will remain a one-off appearance.

Nintendo hasn't announced exactly when Super Smash Bros. will launch for Switch aside from sometime this year, or even if the game will be a port or new installment. However, we do know that it will feature at least one newcomer in the form of the Inklings from Splatoon, and Link will sport his appearance from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. As for who else could possibly appear in the game, you can look at the 20 characters the GameSpot staff would love to see in Super Smash Bros. for Switch.