Rare Replay is not Coming to Wii U says Rare

Unfortunately it looks like the thoughts of a Wii U version of Rare Replay were just a bit too good to be true. If you haven’t been following this chain of events, it essentially boils down to the following. A fan tweeted the official Microsoft Studios account asking if there was a possibility of Rare Replay heading to the Wii U (this came about because Minecraft, another Microsoft owned property, was just announced for Nintendo’s console).

The studio responded with something other than an emphatic “No!”, saying to suggest the idea to Rare itself. This then set the internet on fire, as fans hoped and prayed that Rare would be willing and able to port the game over to the Wii U. However, Rare has responded today and the answer seems to be that emphatic “No!” that everyone dreaded.

[marloc_x]

..emphatic “No!”

How dramatic..twice😌

[pcz]

its fine.

nintendo's answer to microsoft fans asking for goldeneye 007 on X1 will be an emphatic ''NO!''

[kitsune451]

You know Goldeneye was brought to 360/PS3 right...?

[meganick]

@kitsune
That's a remake. Pcz is referring to the N64 original.

[UltraNova]

Its kinda sad games that started and are associated with Nintendo cannot be played on a Nintendo platform because of business.

I mean Banjo will for ever be home on Nintendo in my mind as I spent some of the best gaming years of my life on a N64 playing that game for the better part of those years.

That said, I acknowledge the fact that the games contained in the Rare Replay collection are Rare's original property so MS can use them as they see fit.

[Neonridr]

@kitsune451 - and even with all that polish and fanciness the N64 version was still better.

[Geobros]

Those games fit perfect to Nintendo consoles. They released there years ago, Rare has to think of it again in my opinion.

[marloc_x]

Absolutely agreed☺

[LastcenuryRob]

Rare doesn't have much of a say in this since MS owns the company which means everything on the game, MS has the rights to forever or until they sell it.

[kitsune451]

So why did Microsoft defer to Rare for a response?

[ScorpiusX]

They gave it the same amount thought and time like Nintendo when they decide to sell its stake in Rare which was pretty quick.

NONE OF THAT HAPPEED, THIS HAPENED

As part of a strategic redirection of its game development investments, Nintendo announces it has sold its 49 percent ownership position in U.K.-based developer Rare, Ltd.

"Nintendo had the ability to continue its exclusive relationship with Rare, but in looking at the company's recent track record, it became clear that its value to the future of Nintendo would be limited," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America. "In other words, we passed on this opportunity for very good business reasons."

In fiscal year 2001, Rare accounted for only 9.5 percent of total Nintendo software sales worldwide. In fiscal year 2002, that number declined to 1.5 percent.

Nintendo will retain exclusive rights for all original properties and franchises featured in games developed by Rare, including Donkey Kong(R), Diddy Kong(R) and Star Fox(R).

According to MacDougall, game development is, by nature, dynamic. Relationships continually change to meet the needs of both manufacturers and publishers. "The disposition of this investment leaves us in a position to become even more aggressive in expanding our development capacity, both internally and externally. Aside from several partnerships already announced over the past year, we are currently in similar talks with several other prospective partners around the world."

In the past year, Nintendo has added emphasis on games which offer true innovation to video game players, and especially those with appeal to older players. Key current and upcoming NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM) titles include Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem(TM), Animal Crossing(TM), Metroid(R) Prime, The Legend of Zelda(R) and Capcom's upcoming Resident Evil series exclusively for NINTENDO GAMECUBE.

"Although we declined the opportunity to continue our exclusive agreement with Rare, this announcement does not diminish our respect for their work or the past contributions they have made to Nintendo," adds MacDougall.

[deafdani]

Yeah, that's not what happened at all.

I'm murky on the details, but I remember reading that Nintendo wanted to buy Rare, and they were given a certain amount of time to make an offer - because Microsoft made an offer to buy the company, but Nintendo was given chance first to see if they could match Microsoft's price.

After a time, Nintendo asked for an extension on the period to discuss it further, because internally they hadn't reached a decision yet; Microsoft's offer for Rare was pretty damn high for them to match.

They were denied that time extension, and Rare went to Microsoft.

So, yeah. Nintendo wanted to buy Rare, but they weren't able to.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

People act like MS was an evil company that bought and ruined Rare. Rare was struggling to adapt to rapidly changing gaming landscape, which is clearly shown by the decline in quality of their games during the early 2000s.

[phantomexe]

I can make this fast... nintendo owned 49% of rare the rest was spilt up among a few ppl. MS came in and purchased the others stock which gave them around 51%. Too be fair nintendo was warned but i'm guessing didnt feel there was a treat of loseing majority stock...they were wrong. Rare wanted nintendo to purchase them. MS was on it like flys on &hit. The END

[Concertoine]

It isnt just about how they will sell, but resources. They're working on Sea of Thieves and likely other projects, and to learn how to develop for the Wii U just so they can port old games sounds like too much of a hassle.

I can even see Nintendo objecting since honestly Rare's n64 emulator which ups the resolution to native 1080p along with widescreen support, puts Nintendo's ROM dump to shame.

[GordonKnight]

I know that I would play the game a lot more on the Wii U gamepad instead of on the TV. Now it seems like that option won't be available. I'd pay $60 for it if it had gamepad support!

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Why would they release Rare Replay on Wii U just because Microsuave is publishing Minecraft on Wii U? We shall also see PS fans asking for a Mario port when Nintendo lets Sony Pictures make a Mario movie lol

[Mikefizzled]

Rare have long and close ties with Ninty. Phil made the comment about him saying he'd like Rare Replay on Wii U but that requires manpower and Sea of Thieves is Rare's No1 priority. Thinking it would happen instantly is stupid but I can see a smaller port studio stepping up saying they'll repackage all pre-Xbox Rare games for WiiU.

[marloc_x]

Some Perfect Dark on the gamepad would be excellent 👌

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

I was just thinking on the Business point of view since MS has no problem porting Ninecraft to any rival console. I wish Rare gave the assets of Banjo Kazooie to the ones who remade OTT on 3DS. I wanna play that game again

[Godmars290]

Except that many of the games in question where once on Nintendo systems. That Rare first came into notice and popularity though Nintendo.

More accurate to use Crashbanicoot as example than say Nintendo wont allow an anthology collection on a Sony system after many of the games in question were already on Sony consoles.

Nevermind that Rare as it is now isn't the Rare from back them.

[Geobros]

You are comparing 2 very different examples. Mario has never been released before on sony console. But most of rare replay collection games did...

[BallsEye]

Well, that sucks.
Nothing bad in MS and Nintendo exchanging some games. I thought this kind of deal would be a win for Microsoft, since Wii U and Xbox one are not directly competing like they do with Sony.

[ScorpiusX]

Cool beans

[LastcenuryRob]

Maybe if Nintendo offered up DK country and Didi Kong racing as well as the original Goldeneye (If Nintendo has the rights) to the X1, MS may be more inclined to allow the game to show up on Nintendo consoles.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

No. Only Goldeneye 007 is possible.

Donkey Kong isn't.

[MegaRay]

What about a PS4 port? They never said no to a PS4 port...

[ScorpiusX]

You joke right cause that would be the dumbest thing ever.

[MegaRay]

It was a joke. People on N4G should lighten up a bit :)

[gamerb6]

Unlikely no audience for it on ps4

[MegaRay]

I wasnt serious.

[smashman98]

A lot of people tend to forget that Microsoft and Xbox aren't one and thE same. Microsoft owns Xbox and MineCraft. Xbox however doesn't own MineCraft. Rare On the other hand is owned by Xbox and therefore owned by Microsoft.

[ScorpiusX]

Microsoft owns all weather directly or indirectly all checks are written from MS CHECKBOOK

[STARS]

MicroSoft may have billions of dollars, but one thing they cannot stake claim to is the weather. I believe the term you're looking for is "whether."

OT, exclusives are a good thing (whether people agree with me or not), and most of these games have had their day in the sun on Nintendo consoles already. Nothing wrong with letting a new generation of Xbox gamers experience them on their console of choice. After all, MS did have the foresight to go out and buy Rare, so it's their decision now.

[CrowbaitBob]

Microsoft doesn't own the weather.

[SliceOfTruth888]

Who on earth thought this was possible?

[RiseofScorpio]

This was crazy to begin with. Why the hell would they port their own first party game to a rival?

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Minecraft is in the exact same position as Rare Replay is.
Both are first party by purchase, not because they were with Micro from the start.

If Minecraft can come to the Wii U, this is possible too; it just depends on how Rare feels, and right now it seems they feel that Sea of Thieves takes precedence over any other projects they could be doing.

[CrowbaitBob]

Microsoft actually was involved in the development of games in the Rare Replay collection. PDZ, Nuts and Bolts, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Kameo, all developed as Microsoft exclusives.

edit: How could I forget Viva Pinata?

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@ Crow

They could simply remove those that were made solely for XBox consoles from the collection, and rename it.
Anything else that was originally on Nintendo systems, is fair game.

[DLConspiracy]

Agreed. As I mentioned in the original article eluding to fact it would come to Wii U. It's just some social media lackey that does the twitter. Not someone in charge of making those decisions.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Rare's response wasn't an empathic no, it was more just a statement that RR is exclusive to XBone and they're busy with Sea of Thieves.

If pressed after SoT is done, they might come around.

Well, I won't hold my breath on it, but I won't lose hope completely.

[LOL_WUT]

Why aren't you telling people to go out and buy an X1? Just like how you tell others to go out and buy a Wii U whenever someone asks for a Nintendo exclusive to be on a rival platform ;)

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

If someone wants to get Rare Replay right now instead of waiting to see if it can or does ever come to Wii U, then I'd definitely suggest getting an XBone.

Unlike CERTAIN PEOPLE, I don't walk around like a dumb-ass telling people NOT to get a platform for the games they want on it.

Just because I'm not rich enough to own all three platforms doesn't mean I don't see the merits, or acknowledge the good games, on each.

Sit back down.

[pcz]

lets be honest, it would be better off on NX.

why would rare put their game on wiiu for it to rot on the shelves?

[rjason12]

Do you guys not understand that this is a Microsoft exclusive because rare is a first party studio for Microsoft? We will never see this on Wii U, if you really want this, then buy an Xbox One, just like we tell everyone to buy a Wii U for Nintendos exclusives.

[LAWSON72]

I think at this point we are preaching to ourselves this site has been ridiculous but it has really hit a new low, like WTH have I been reading.

People here are pretending Rare was stolen by MS when that is very much not the case. I swear anything MS related just attracts a bunch of ignorance. There are those that posts facts or simple logic and then people will call BS with unsupported opinions.

[rjason12]

Totally agree, I'm mainly Nintendo, but man people are getting rediculous with this stuff. Pretty much begging to get other consoles exclusives.

[LAWSON72]

Rare Replay will never come to any Nintendo platform nor will any other MS Studio game anytime soon unless some extremely serious events unfold. Same goes for PS4 which is apparently baffling to alot of people.

Maybe if Rare was bought for billions of dollars and had to maintain some image to not be a huge loss it would happen but that is not the case.

[Picnic]

I know many people still think that Nintendo were right not to take up the option of buying our Rare outright.

This usually comes down to the fact that Perfect Dark and Conker's Bad Fur Day marked a downturn in sales that Starfox Adventures didn't put right.

Miyamoto was known to grumble about Rare - apparently he influenced the content of Goldeneye, he implied that Donkey Kong Country was shallow. And Nintendo didn't publish mature rated Conker.

Rare did shoot themselves in the foot a bit with Conker. It started off as a perfectly fine looking, cutesy, game where Conker would adopt a different hat for different situations, like a gladiator or Davey Crockett. Then Rare decided that they'd made too many of those- even though Banjo Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64 were actually pretty dark games in plot and some levels. So the game they'd started in 1997 turned in to a drunken squirrel. This was apt for the South Park like times but it wasn't a good strategy in the long run. The game has some passionate fans but it didn't sell well. It's right to like the game but it's also right to hate that Conker : Twelve Tales was abandoned. Why didn't they consider releasing a kid version (Twelve Tales) and an adult version (Bad Fur Day) on the same cartridge?

I do blame Conker for why Nintendo sold Rare. But I also think Rare had started overthinking what they were all about- they regarded themselves as the Goldeneye developer instead of the cutesy platformer maker. It's a shame.

[Neonridr]

I hope they reconsider. I love me some Blast Corps.