Back in 2008 Rare was developing an HD remaster of its N64 FPS classic GoldenEye 007 to be released on XBLA. Unfortunately, copyright disputes with Nintendo saw the project shuttered.

Indeed, Microsoft remained cagey about its existence back in the day as it couldn't strike an arrangement with Nintendo to release Rare's classic on Microsoft's hardware.

But now that cancelled project has come to light in the following new video via Rare Thief.

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As it turns out, the proposed remaster would have let players switch between the original N64 graphics and the suped up HD model at the touch of a button.

Apparently it would have upgraded the framerate to 60fps and the skyboxes would have likewise been fleshed out.

The cancelled GoldenEye 007 remaster also had a few new multiplayer features including three new levels (Dam, Frigate and Depot) along with the option to set everyone's height equally so awkward builds like Oddjob and Jaws wouldn't have an advantage.

While the fairly straight remaster never saw the light of day, we did eventually get a full remake on the Wii with the identically titled GoldenEye 007 in 2010. This version was later given an HD port on Xbox 360 and PS3 as GoldenEye 007: Reloaded in 2011 - a game I found unremarkable.