Developer Iron Galaxy is currently looking into an Easter egg discovered by fans in the newly released Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, which features a trash can containing a box for a fictional game called “Banjo Champion.” This element appears in the game’s Waterpark level and seems to reference the treatment of Neversoft, the original developer of the Tony Hawk series, and its transition to creating Guitar Hero games under Activision’s management.
The discovery of this Easter egg sparked discussions online, with some fans interpreting it as a jab at how Activision has historically reallocated development teams, including pushing Neversoft away from their flagship skateboarding franchise to work on Guitar Hero. Iron Galaxy addressed these claims via social media, stating, “We have the utmost respect for anyone who makes games. We’re investigating how that got in there in the first place… and we’ll be removing that from the environment art in the next update.”
Interestingly, many fans responded by urging the developer to keep the joke in the game, asserting that it was more about Activision’s practices rather than an insult to Neversoft. This response highlights the community’s engagement and fondness for the history of the franchise.
It’s worth noting that the Banjo Champion joke was also featured in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, developed by Vicarious Visions, which faced a similar fate post-success, getting integrated into other Activision projects like Call of Duty and Diablo.
Despite the controversy around the Easter egg, it’s an opportunity for fans to reflect on the franchises and developers that have contributed to gaming history, igniting conversations about creative independence within the industry.