Two Separate 'Goldeneye' Rereleases Have Been Announced Today, Confusing Gamers

A strange story has quietly developed in the video game world today. While gamers have been hyped about the imminent releases of Fire Emblem: Engage and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, both Nintendo and Microsoft announced rereleases of Goldeneye 007. One might think that means both the Switch and Xbox are getting the same game, but that doesn't quite look like it will be the case.

During today's Direct, Nintendo capped off its section about titles coming to its lineup of N64 games by revealing a port of Goldeneye.

Ready up for your objective, secret agents. Nintendo 64’s GoldenEye 007 is coming soon to #NintendoSwitch for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members, now with online play! pic.twitter.com/0owxvEWcJo

— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) September 13, 2022

At nearly the same time, Rare LTD announced that Goldeneye 007 would be coming to Xbox Game Pass.

25 years after its original release, experience GoldenEye 007 faithfully recreated for Xbox consoles. Includes achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer! Coming soon to @XboxGamePass. pic.twitter.com/kpBlJKqFR9

— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) September 13, 2022

What's fascinating about this is that Goldeneye 007 doesn't appear to simply be a release for both the Switch and Xbox Series X/S but rather a port that will have different features depending on which console the player uses.

Nintendo's Goldeneye will likely be a simple port of the original game, but they have promised the addition of online multiplayer — which any Switch fan knows can often be a dodgy experience. For the Xbox version, Rare promised "achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer" — but not online multiplayer.

Not only that, we've been delighted to work with our friends at Nintendo again on GoldenEye 007's simultaneous release for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members! https://t.co/0biFoSQCb0

— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) September 13, 2022

Rare noted it has partnered with Nintendo to ensure a simultaneous release of the Goldeneye port on Xbox and Nintendo, but players were still confused as to why the game will be different depending on which console they own.

I just saw the news GoldenEye 007 has online multiplayer for Nintendo Switch…

But not for Xbox…Xbox has split screen only

Here I was thinking Xbox got a rare W today…even when they have their lane wide open, they can't help but stumble and screw it up. Thanks Game Pass pic.twitter.com/mPE3PqTono

— THE RED DRAGON 🔺 (@TWTHEREDDRAGON) September 13, 2022

Nintendo still salty Microsoft tried to buy them that’s why Goldeneye 007 doesn’t have online on Xbox.

— andy 🇨🇺👨🏻‍💻🕹 (@itsmartin3za) September 13, 2022

When xbox and game pass users finds out goldeneye 007 has no online multiplayer and Nintendo Switch Online does.

Must be nice. pic.twitter.com/YLFcsNNlz0

— Shine Bright Like a Diamond (@DiamondRyce) September 13, 2022

Still, regardless of port differences, a new generation of players will be able to experience one of the most influential games of all time, even if it hasn't quite aged to modern standards. Now if they could just get to work on a port of Nightfire …