Skip to main content

Banjo-Kazooie will be playable on Switch next month

Starting next month, Nintendo Switch owners who have subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be able to play yet another retro classic. Developer Rare’s iconic Banjo-Kazooie will be coming to the console as an addition to the service in January 2022.

Banjo’s on a mission to rescue his sister from the envious wicked witch Gruntilda!

Foil her selfish plan to snatch the beauty from Tooty in Banjo-Kazooie, available to #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members in January! #Nintendo64 pic.twitter.com/pvPD4aRvwr

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) December 10, 2021

Announced in a post on Twitter from the Nintendo of America account, it’s not clear exactly when Banjo-Kazooie will be available for Expansion Pack subscribers. It’s not too much of a surprise that the platformer is being added, though, as it’s one of the most recognizable titles in the Nintendo 64’s library. Another classic, Paper Mario, was also recently added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s library of games.

Recommended Videos

Banjo-Kazooie will be added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s catalog in sometime in January. A specific date for the game’s arrival has not been revealed. However, with Paper Mario‘s addition this month and Banjo-Kazooie coming to the service next month, it seems like Nintendo is aiming to add games on a monthly basis.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is an upgraded version of Nintendo’s basic online service, giving players access to a growing catalog of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games for a bit more cash than they’d spend on the basic version. Along with access to Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games, users who subscribe to Nintendo’s premium online service will get access to some DLC for Nintendo’s first-party games. At the moment, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack users will also get access to Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ Happy Home Paradise expansion.

Otto Kratky
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Otto Kratky is a freelance writer with many homes. You can find his work at Digital Trends, GameSpot, and Gamepur. If he's…
The Nintendo Switch 2’s launch lineup just got better thanks to Sonic
Old Sonic runs away from Metal Sonic in Sonic Generations X Shadow.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup just got a lot more enticing for Sega fans, with Sonic X Shadows Generations, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S all receiving June 5 release dates. Preorders for these titles (and more) start April 24, and each of these three titles have been improved to offer Nintendo Switch 2 players a little something extra.

Sonic X Shadow Generations has enhanced graphics and gameplay, and also includes a total remaster of Sonic Generations with bonus content. It's particularly appealing for fans of Sonic lore and explains exactly what Shadow is considered the "ultimate lifeform." You can preorder the game for $50 starting tomorrow.

Read more
Some Nintendo Switch 2 game cards will also work on the original Switch
A white-haired woman wielding a sword with a white dragon behind her stares at a black haired man also wielding a sword with a blue and black dragon behind him.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, but according to publisher Marvelous, the same cartridge will also work on the original Nintendo Switch. Even the "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" of the game will work on the original Switch — you just won't receive the upgraded version with graphical enhancements.

"There’s no need to download the full game," writes the team on Guardians of Azuma's FAQ page. "Simply insert the card into either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console, and the correct version will launch automatically." The game is launching on both consoles, but the only difference in the game cards is that the Nintendo Switch 2 version contains the Upgrade Pack in addition to the game.

Read more
Nintendo Switch 2 preorders begin next week, but accessories will cost more
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom runs on a Switch 2 screen.

If you've been itching to place your preorder for the Nintendo Switch 2, great news: the wait is over,and you can place your preorder on April 24. Despite concerns over tariffs, the price remains unchanged. The Nintendo Switch 2 will retail for $450 for just the console or $500 for the Mario Kart World bundle; however, accessory prices have been adjusted "due to changes in market conditions." Nintendo states that "other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are possible in the future."

In its announcement, Nintendo writes, "We apologize for the retail pre-order delay, and hope this reduces some of the uncertainty our customers may be experiencing. We thank our customers for their patience, and we share their excitement to experience Nintendo Switch 2 starting June 5, 2025."

Read more