Nightdive Studios recently confirmed its unsuccessful attempt to remaster one of the Nintendo 64's most legendary titles. The Vancouver-based studio, renowned for reviving classic games, faced an immovable obstacle when Nintendo flatly denied permission to touch its intellectual property. As Nintendo's groundbreaking 3D console, the Nintendo 64 hosted genre-defining masterpieces like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - with GoldenEye 007 standing as its revolutionary first-person shooter.

Founded by Stephen and Alix Kick, Nightdive Studios has built its reputation on expertly remastering abandoned games for modern platforms. The studio recently made headlines regarding Nightdive's complex work on System Shock 3, whose development future remains uncertain.

In a revealing interview with VGC, Kick disclosed that despite crafting a comprehensive remaster proposal and securing MGM/Eon's approval (holders of the James Bond license), Nintendo responded with absolute refusal. GoldenEye 007 remains one of the most historically significant FPS games, standing alongside pioneers like Doom and Half-Life. Kick expressed disappointment at Nintendo's "minimal" justification, especially after the studio's substantial preparation.

Originally released in 1997 by Rare and Nintendo, GoldenEye 007 revolutionized console shooters with its mission-based campaign and legendary four-player split-screen mode. The game adapts the 1995 Pierce Brosnan Bond film, tasking players with completing objectives across varied locales. While available on Nintendo Switch's N64 library, the upcoming Switch 2 will enhance N64 games with quality-of-life improvements like rewind functionality and button remapping.

Nightdive continues its preservation efforts, recently expressing interest in remastering Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era games. The studio's impressive catalog includes revivals of Turok 3, Star Wars: Dark Forces, and Quake 2. Community requests for future projects include cult classics like Lost Odyssey and The Darkness.

This rejection highlights Nintendo's fiercely protective stance over its classic titles, even when passionate developers like Nightdive propose respectful, high-quality remasters. While disappointing for fans, it preserves Nintendo's complete control over how its most beloved games are presented to new generations.