Battletoads Coming to Shovel Knight, New Game Teased

During Xbox boss Phil Spencer's Game Developers Conference panel today, it was announced that the Battletoads will be making an appearance in the Xbox One version of Shovel Knight--and it was teased that that is not all that awaits the long-dormant franchise.

At the end of a Shovel Knight trailer showing off universal app support, the Battletoads made a brief appearance, teasing their inclusion in a future update to the platforming game. This was followed by ID@Xbox head Chris Carla making a quip about where we might see the Battletoads next.

This is just the latest tease of a new Battletoads game from Microsoft. The company renewed a Battletoads trademark last year, sparking speculation that a new game could be in the works. Most recently, Spencer wore a Battletoads t-shirt during a presentation he made in January. Later, when asked about its significance, he responded, "I don't think I've ever worn a t-shirt that's been a complete head-fake. I wouldn't do that."

The Battletoads series was developed by Rare, the same company responsible for Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye, and (these days) Kinect Sports. It's been more than two decades since the last Battletoads game was released, but the franchise still has a fervent fanbase.