Bio:
Remember that magical moment when Banjo and Kazooie first burst onto your screen? That was Steve Mayles’ doing. For over 30 years, Steve has been the creative force behind some of gaming’s most iconic and beloved characters, with his games selling in excess of 33 million copies worldwide.
From the nostalgic days of the Nintendo Entertainment System to the advanced technology of today’s consoles, Steve’s characters have enchanted players across multiple generations of gaming.
At the legendary UK studio Rare Ltd, Steve was a pivotal force behind the 1994 phenomenon Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, a game that redefined 16bit platforming with its jaw-dropping pre-rendered 3d graphics and animation. The overwhelming success of Donkey Kong Country paved the way for its highly praised sequel, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, where Steve further enriched the world of Donkey Kong with more of his memorable characters.
Transitioning to the Nintendo 64, Steve’s influence only grew stronger with the creation of Banjo-Kazooie and its sequel, Banjo-Tooie. These titles are celebrated as some of the greatest 3D platformers of all time, and as the creator of Banjo and Kazooie, Steve designed and animated what would become one of gaming’s most beloved partnerships. The enduring popularity of the bear and bird was plain to see when Banjo and Kazooie joined Super Smash Bros to a rapturous reception.
His impressive character roster extends beyond the bear and bird duo, to include Donkey Kong’s formidable nemesis King K.Rool (now, by huge fan demand, also a fighter in Super Smash Bros), the charming Dixie Kong and the extended Kong family including Funky and Cranky Kong, the villainous Gruntilda from Banjo-Kazooie, and many, many more.
Steve joined Playtonic Games in early 2015 at the inception of the company, introducing his latest smash-hit characters Yooka and Laylee through a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign. An overnight sensation, the excitement was so intense several records were broken (fastest to $1 million at the time, still Europe’s highest-funded videogame Kickstarter)
Beyond character creation, Steve breathes life into his designs through captivating animations. Who could forget the Talon Trot that defines Banjo and Kazooie’s playful antics? His talent for animating characters not only brings out their unique personalities but also greatly enhances the overall gameplay experience.
As part of a wider team, games Steve have worked on have won two Baftas and AIAS Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics
Full list of games developed:
For Rare Ltd:
Battletoads Double Dragon NES (1993)
Battletoads Double Dragon SNES (1993)
Donkey Kong Country SNES (1994)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest SNES (1995)
Banjo Kazooie N64 (1998)
DK 64 N64 (1999)
Banjo Tooie N64 (2000)
Grabbed by the Ghoulies Xbox (2003)
Viva Pinata Xbox360 (2006)
Banjo Kazooie Nuts ‘n Bolts Xbox360 (2008)
Kinect Sports Xbox360 (2010)
Kinect Sports2 Xbox360 (2011)
Kinect Sports Rivals Xbox One (2014)
For Playtonic Ltd:
Yooka-Laylee PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch (2017)
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch (2019)
