Update: It's happening! Banjo-Kazooie are joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as DLC!
Banjo could potentially appear as a guest character in the next Super Smash Bros. title for the Nintendo Switch. A new game in the series was announced for the Nintendo Switch earlier this month, but it has yet to be confirmed if it will be a port of the 2014 installment for the Wii U and the 3DS, or an entirely new game.
The backpack-wearing bear with yellow shorts was first introduced as one of the playable drivers in Rare's Diddy Kong Racing for the Nintendo 64. He became a fan-favorite character when he starred in his own title, Banjo-Kazooie, which saw Banjo team up with Kazooie, the back-talking orange bird that he keeps in his backpack. The game's success led to a sequel titled Banjo-Tooie. Microsoft's purchase of Rare in 2002 put an end to nearly all of Rare's collaborations with Nintendo, including Banjo games. Banjo's only major console release since Banjo-Tooie was Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts in 2008.
In a reply to a fan's question, the head of Xbox and Microsoft's Vice President of Gaming Phil Spencer said he would be open to letting Banjo join Super Smash Bros. Though fans may be excited over the news, this isn't the first time Spencer has addressed this question. He claimed to be open to the possibility back in 2015 when he agreed that it would be "cool" to have Banjo as a DLC character in Super Smash Bros. 4.
Fans have been clamoring for Banjo's inclusion since the early installments of Super Smash Bros. The game's roster strictly consisted of Nintendo characters until the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, which added two third-party characters, Snake from Metal Gear Solid and Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog. Even more guest characters were included in the latest installment, including Cloud from Final Fantasy VII.
The addition of Banjo would reunite the character with Super Smash Bros. veteran Diddy Kong for the first time since 1997. Having Banjo as a playable character would create numerous opportunities for a unique moveset, especially with Kazooie along for the ride. In the Banjo-Kazooie games, Banjo would do the adventuring while Kazooie would help out by pecking enemies, shooting various kinds of eggs from his rear, and popping his wings out of the backpack to fly.
Microsoft isn't the only company willing to let one of their characters join the roster for the upcoming Nintendo Switch game. Funimation recently took to Twitter to ask Nintendo when Dragon Ball's Goku "could join the fight."
Sources: Phil Spencer, Funimation