Although Nintendo and Microsoft are supposed to be rivals in the games industry, you wouldn’t know it from the way Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai talks about Banjo & Kazooie, who are joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate today. In fact, Sakurai is even encouraging players to play Banjo-Kazooie on Xbox if they can.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate x Banjo Kazooie 44 IMAGES

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During a Nintendo Direct post-show focused solely on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sakurai ran down the history of the character, Banjo & Kazooie. “As some of you may know the Banjo-Kazooie IP now belong to Microsoft,” Sakurai said during the presentation.“Technically, they’re a rival platform holder. Even so, they were happy for Banjo & Kazooie to join the Super Smash Bros. series. For that I’m extremely grateful. Rare also welcomed us with open arms,” Sakurai revealed. “So, if you want to play Banjo-Kazooie today, you can do so on Xbox. I know this is a Nintendo broadcast but please give the game a try on Xbox.”A major Nintendo director encouraging his audience to go and play a game exclusive to a rival platform is a pretty surprising move. But everything feels surprising when it comes to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.Also, it’s not like Nintendo and Microsoft haven’t been working together a lot lately. Xbox titles like Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead are coming to the Nintendo Switch along with Xbox Live . And big Microsoft games like Minecraft support cross-platform play with the Nintendo Switch. So, the love Sakurai is showing Banjo-Kazooie and the Xbox is just the latest in a recent string of overtures from the two companies.For more, check out our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review for our take on the latest crossover fighter.

Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.