In September 2022, Microsoft officially confirmed during a Nintendo Direct broadcast that GoldenEye 007, a modern port of the classic James Bond game, will be available for Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch. This game is believed to be slated for release this week, after months of fan speculation.
Previously, the company had announced that online play would only be available in the Nintendo Switch version, suggesting that both versions would have the same content. This is further reinforced by recent trailers.
According to the developer Rare, the Xbox version of the game will have ‘achievements, 4K resolution, and a smoother framerate’ in addition to split-screen local multiplayer. Rare previously mentioned that the Xbox port will have updated control options, ‘including dual analog stick support, native 16:9 resolution up to 4K Ultra HD, a consistent refresh rate and a full complement of achievements to unlock.’
An employee from Rare has previously confirmed that the version of GoldenEye that will be released for modern platforms is not the same as the canceled Xbox 360 remaster that was leaked online in 2021.
In an interview with VGC in 2021, the co-directors of the canceled Xbox 360 remaster of GoldenEye spoke for the first time and expressed that they didn’t think it would ever be officially released. ‘It’s kind of bittersweet,’ said co-director Chris Tilston when asked about the leak of the remastered version. He went on to say that ‘it means people get to see the work that was done, but it also masks some of the cockups that went on behind the scenes.’
GoldenEye 007 will be available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through Xbox Game Pass. Additionally, players who own a digital copy of Rare Replay will be able to download the game for free.
