2017’s Yooka-Laylee was one of the most significant titles to release during the wave of Kickstarter spiritual successors. The collect-a-thon 3D platformer, a spirutual follow-up to the beloved Nintendo 64 Banjo-Kazooie games, was developed by Playtonic Games, a new studio founded by ex-Rare staff looking to answer the cries of many fan for a new traditional entry in the beloved series.
While it had many fans, the original Yooka-Laylee launched to a rather mixed reception, with many players criticizing elements of its game design and technical issues such as bugs and poor console performance. While this would usually be where the story stops for most blooming franchises, Playtonic is now returning to the original Yooka-Laylee to make a new version that lives up to both original and potential new fans’ expectations with Yooka-Replaylee. I was very grateful to get to throw some questions to Playtonic CEO, Gavin Price in the run-up to the game’s launch on October 9.
How would you describe Yooka-Replaylee? Is it a remake, a remaster, or something completely different?
It's a remakester... a more hybrid approach that goes beyond being a remaster but not quite legally or morally classed as being a complete remake either. Yooka-Replaylee is as close to a full-on remake a game can be without completely building the game from scratch. The game addresses every common criticism the first game received both from the audience and within the studio itself! Everything from how the game looks and plays to the world layouts, collectibles and more has been completely redone!
There are now 300 pagies [the original game had 145] and that means loads more challenges, some all new areas to explore and a ton of refinements across moveset (new moves, combos and chains!), collectibles and all new features as well such as the map and logbook, fast-travel, new enemies and control scheme and being able to play from the start of the game with every move unlocked and the world pre-expanded (this completely changes the way the game plays out!).
Aside from publishing, Playtonic has been very quiet since Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. What motivated you to return to the original Yooka-Laylee?
2025 is the tenth anniversary year of the studio and a lot has changed in those ten years. We’ve always known as a studio that we could do better than what we did with Yooka-Laylee, which we proved with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, and we thought what better time to reinforce that than to revisit the original game and address those external and internal criticisms than our 10-year-anniversary.
How has the development of the project progressed in comparison to the original game?
About the same we think. Whilst improving on what's already there can be faster than inventing from scratch, there's been tons of inventing new content and elements from scratch too, the game is choc-full of goodness, both refined and new!
How have you found developing the game outside of the crowdfunding process? Have the changes to development allowed you to take more risks as opposed to the original due to the Kickstarter backers' expectations?
We've definitely taken more risks, looking back we sometimes think maybe somethings were said in haste and amidst the excitement of it all and then had to stay committed to it, plus it's great to not have to reveal so much so soon and let surprises come out naturally (there are many things in the original we spoiled up front in the hope of making a bigger splash marketing wise).
The original Yooka-Laylee released the same year as other 3D platformers such as Super Mario Odyssey and Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, arguably the year 3D platformers started to return to the mainstream. How do you reflect on the game and its place both as a part of this industry trend and as a crowdfunded spiritual successor?
We're still proud of what we did under extreme circumstances, it's a triumph of hard work in the face of many challenges but it's in our nature to never be satisfied and always want to do better. Still to this day it sends a message about 3D platformers and the desire for more great entries in the genre to come, we are certainly betting some of our house on it!
How have you found developing for the Nintendo Switch 2?Â
Warm and cosy, Nintendo platforms are and will always be in our heart. I think in future now we know more about the console we will enjoy developing Switch 2 content even more (remember, we were quite far into development before we found out about Switch 2 the same time as everyone else).
You recently announced that Yooka-Replaylee will launch on a full Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge, can you discuss what influenced that decision?
We've always known we have a sizeable fan-base when it comes to physical media and given the choice we know what the best option would be if we wanted to do things right. We have a wonderful partner in PM Studios too who really value the fans and enjoy physical editions as much as ourselves, so we're chuffed to bits at being a full-on Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge game.
Given many at the studio's previous history with Rare, which is still a very diverse studio in terms of the genres it tackles, do you see Playtonic breaking away from the platforming genre any time soon or are you squarely locked in on Yooka-Laylee and 3D platformers for the time being?
Over to Capital B... "We're looking 360 at the market and have eyes on all potential growth strategies across a diverse portfolio taking advantage of many emerging, pre-emerged and submerged opportunities spanning a multi-genre and genre specific outlook the – "˜FORE-LEFT!!!!, sorry playing golf as I dictate this to Dr Quack' – stock exchanges are sure to look favourably upon and give our shareholders maximum gains"
There you have it. Thanks to Gavin for lending us his time, and of course Capital B for his brief cameo.
Yooka-Replaylee releases for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 9.
Have you played the original Yooka-Laylee? What are you hoping to see in Yooka-Replaylee? Let us know in the comments below!
