Rare, the Microsoft-owned studio behind one of
the best licensed games ever made, has said that the chances of
GoldenEye 64 getting a re-release on modern consoles is now very, very slim.
Rumours of a deal between Microsoft and Nintendo and Rare started doing the rounds a while back, but have now been quashed in full. Both Nintendo and Microsoft had wanted to re-release the classic James Bond game,
GoldenEye 64, for their consoles, but the issue was complicated by the fact that both console manufacturers held a stake in the license and neither wanted to relinquish it to their rival.
Released in 1997 on the Nintendo 64 by a then-independent Rare Studios,
GoldenEye 64 is still a much-loved classic and Rare's proven success with console FPS games was probably a big factor in Microsoft's decision to buy the studio.
Addressing a reader question for
Nintendo Everything though, a Rare spokesperson confirmed that the deal had pretty much fallen apart.
"
That was some time ago, my friend. Fate was against us that day," he said. "
Destiny conspired to raise the hurdles even as we attempted to clear them, resulting in unpleasant groinal injury. I suspect we're long past the stage where an agreement was on the cards, but you never know. Stranger things have happened… somewhere … probably."
It's a shame - there's a whole generation of people out there who haven't played
GoldenEye 64. Let us know your thoughts in
the forums.
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