Microsoft: No plans to release XBLA GoldenEye

by Dustin Burg { Feb 25th 2008 at 11:15AM }

We don't have to wait for Wednesday's big Xbox 360 World reveal, because Microsoft is already putting the nail GoldenEye 007's coffin.

Last week, we told you about British magazine Xbox 360 World claiming they had some "never-seen shots and hands-on details" on GoldenEye 007 for the XBLA, making it seem like the game was in development. But after digging a little deeper and running a few updates (okay, a LOT of updates), we finally settled on the idea that GoldenEye was still sitting at a "canceled" status. And we were right. Microsoft confirmed with Eurogamer that "the story in Xbox World 360 is based entirely on rumour and speculation" and that they "do not have the necessary rights to release GoldenEye on Xbox Live Arcade." Sadly, no XBLA GoldenEye for us as wipe our hands clean of this disheartening story and call it a day.

Tags: goldeneye, goldeneye-007, microsoft, rare, xbla

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neuromancer @ Feb 25th 2008 11:19AM

DAMN IT

HalaMadrid!!! @ Feb 25th 2008 6:57PM

damn it can't find my gun oh well i'll jump out the window goodbye cruel world:(

Cameron @ Feb 25th 2008 11:22AM

FUCK.

Christopher @ Feb 25th 2008 11:26AM

FUCK indeed!

Grant @ Feb 25th 2008 11:31AM

you know,
i loved this game and played it ad-nauseum back in the N64 days.... and even a bit past that. But in the days of COD4, and halo 3, it's really not the great multiplayer experience we all remember.

Sure it would have made a great XBLA title, but i hooked up the ol' N64 to re-embrace the goodness when this story first surfaced to only find out that time hasn't been too friendly to our old friend.

If you own a 360, you probably own AT LEAST one fps, if not many, and will probably realize how far the genre has come in the last 10 years if you played this again.

Besides, if you really need a fix, ebay can give you a working n64 and the game for like $60 total. Or N64 emulators work great on todays most basic machines.

Josh @ Feb 25th 2008 12:04PM

I agree 100%. Goldeneye has nothing on some of the modern shooters like Gears, Halo 3 and COD4. It was fantastic for its time but I don't think it can compete with the newer stuff.

killploki @ Feb 25th 2008 1:32PM

until i get a laptop gun and proximity grenades in halo or cod4 then i will still want this game.

Ray @ Feb 25th 2008 2:37PM

laptop gun???

try perfect dark & perfect dark zero buddy

George Arauz @ Feb 25th 2008 5:27PM

Damnit!!!!

Randal @ Feb 25th 2008 11:34AM

I agree, this is dumb! Nintendo and Microsoft need to suck it up and release the "new" version on the Wii's WiiWare AND XBLA! I would buy both versions! PLUS i still have my N64 hooked up and ironically we still have death matches! The game is still amazing. Well okay a little weird to control at first! We've come a long way! But the game still is so fun!

ccc @ Feb 25th 2008 11:38AM

If I had to guess, I'd be willing to bet that a complete or near complete build of this was ready for the Arcade. MS owns Rare, Goildeneye is from Nintendo's 64 console and Actavision owns the rights to anything James Bond Related in the gaming industry.
If I was running the show at MS I'd release to my consumers and give those other companies the bif FUCK YOU and I'll be seeing you in court line.
Even if MS lost, what exactly would they loose? Money? How much? Not enough to hurt the company thats for sure. But hey, they might just win in court never know. But seriously, grow a pair MS.

mattclarkie @ Feb 25th 2008 11:46AM

MS could do that Nintendo and Activision probably wouldn't even bother to sue, and if they did I expect the fanboy community would gather behind MS and they would probably sell alot of consoles and games of the back of it.

Roto13 @ Feb 25th 2008 11:46AM

Microsoft doesn't care enough about your desire to play Goldeneye to put themselves in any legal hot water. They're a business out to make money, not lose money on court proceedings. Do you think they were developing Goldeneye as some kind of personal favour to it's customers? Just a great big pat on the back and a thanks for using their hardware? Of course not.

rabbitc @ Feb 25th 2008 11:59AM

Guess what's coming to Wii virtual console... -this does seem kindof stupid. Lots of 'no's from Microsoft lately - no blu-ray, no goldeneye, etc... Guess it's clear to see that Microsoft won't be releasing anything that involves licensing costs...

Ryan @ Feb 25th 2008 12:12PM

Don't be stupid. If licensing costs had anything to do with it they never would have started developing it for the XBLA in the first place.

As it were, they did start developing it knowing full well that they were going to be giving a cut of it away to Activision. The problem is not licensing fees, it's that it's just flat out illegal now.

ccc @ Feb 25th 2008 11:57AM

@Roto 13

Let me remind you that making money in the gaming industry is a fairly new concept to MS as they have done nothing but lost money until recently.
Mattclarkie is on the button with what he said.
Even if Nintendo and Actavision sued which is unlikely what would they win if they won? 10 million each?
Please, the tubes that hold the Toilet paper in the MS bathrooms cost more than that.

Roto13 @ Feb 25th 2008 12:12PM

$10 million? Try every single cent Microsoft would "make" from Goldeneye plus court fees, copyright infringement, and more. Microsoft isn't in this business to lose money, even if it's what they're doing. Microsoft has absolutely nothing to gain from this.

nerrrrrrd @ Feb 25th 2008 11:58AM

Told ya it was just some brits trying to sell a mag. Now go back to playing COD4!

Tony @ Feb 25th 2008 12:23PM

I don't think it matters if this compares to say Halo 3 or CoD4 simply because it would be an XBLA release. Charging $10 for a fixed up version of a decent FPS that people can play against each other online in would put this on another plane entirely... at least in my opinion.

It gives people with the big FPS games yet another title to try, the price would entice still more, the game would entice even more... it would likely wind up with a gigantic userbase to make it even more enjoyable than it ever was on the N64.

I think it would be a good thing despite some of its dated qualities. Personally I never thought the game was right out amazing to begin with, but it would have been an excellent addition to XBLA if nothing else.

Jeramy @ Feb 25th 2008 12:44PM

lame. they certainly would've made back any money spent on licensing.

ccc @ Feb 25th 2008 12:59PM

Right on Tony.

Goldeneye hitting the Xbox Live Arcade, even if it isn't my most desired game to come, would easly be the most massive event in digital downlaoding history on any platform and could rack up 5 million downloads or so in the first few days easly. MS needs to make the plunge for themselves, for us and for the history of gaming book when its made.
If you can't see that vision then you have a lack of passion for the Gaming Industry in general...or the wrong passion.