A working build of GoldenEye 007’s cancelled Xbox 360 remaster has leaked online and it’s fully playable on PC via unofficial emulators.
The 2008 project was originally planned to release digitally onXbox 360’sXboxLive Arcade platform, but it was ultimately cancelled due to rights issues, despite the game being virtually complete.
Now VGC has verified that a near-final ROM of the remaster is being actively circulated on file sharing sites. The ROM includes the full remastered single-player campaign and multiplayer.
Update - Officially announced13th Sep 2022 / 3:40 pm
Microsoft has officially confirmed GoldenEye 007 for both Nintendo Switch and Xbox Game Pass.
However, the game is not the previously leaked remake that VGC reviewed here, but a simplified remaster. The Xbox version runs at 60fps and in 4K, butlacks online multiplayer. Whereas the Switch version is a direct port of the N64 original, but does include online play.
“25 years after its original release, experience GoldenEye 007 faithfully recreated for Xbox consoles,” developer Rare said. “Includes achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer!”
The ROM leak followsthe publication of a 2-hour video last weekend,and represents the first time the wider public has been able to play the remaster since its existence was leaked by a UK magazine in 2008.
Oh boy. I can’t quite believe this. This is proper holy grail territory for me.pic.twitter.com/It6PVW5A8R
Thinking of holding a DF livestream this afternoon to discuss and play the Goldeneye 360 leaked version. It’s really good. Any interest?pic.twitter.com/h9J84JymMP
Ein Traum wird wahr 🤩Ich kann endlich das XBLA Remaster von GoldenEye spielen 🤯pic.twitter.com/3aputvU50F
Be sure to press RB when playing Goldeneye XBLApic.twitter.com/xBa7Qb9JSk
The remaster gives players the option to switch between HD converted graphics and the originalN64visuals, however, the planned online multiplayer mode does not feature in the leaked ROM, according to people with access to it.
Xbox Series X/S at retail
GoldenEye’s remaster was also planned to incorporate online leaderboards for speedruns, as well as Achievements, but these are said to not be fully functioning in the leaked ROM.
AlthoughMicrosoft, rights holdersActivisionand original publisherNintendowere said to have initially agreed on a licensing deal for the planned 2008 release of the remaster, the project ultimately collapsed due to the sheer number of parties involved in approving the re-release.
GoldenEye composerGrant Kirkhope– who was atRareduring the remaster’s development, but wasn’t involved in the project – told VGC last week that the Xbox remaster was cancelled due to the sheer number of parties who needed to be convinced.
“The main reason it didn’t happen was because there were too many stakeholders,” he said. “Microsoft, Nintendo and EON [owners of the Bond license] could never agree on terms, and that’s before you even start to consider getting all the original movie actors to agree to have their likenesses used again.
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“It would’ve cost a lot of money to get it done and because of that the project probably wouldn’t have been financially viable.”
In 2015, Xbox bossPhil Spencersuggested that due to the same issues, there was little hope of the Goldeneye project ever being revived for modern platforms. Asked about the cancelled remaster by a fan, Spencer tweeted: “GoldenEye rights are so challenging, looked at this many times. Lot’s of different parties to work with, we’ve always given up.”
Although GoldenEye 007 was never released for Xbox 360, its spiritual successorPerfect Darkwas eventually given the Xbox Live Arcade treatment and can be played on Xbox consoles to this day.
