THQ has today announced that it has acquired the worldwide rights to distribute a number of Game Boy Advance games from Microsoft's Rare studio. The games included in the agreement are Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, Sabre Wulf, Banjo Pilot (formerly Diddy Kong Pilot), and a previously unannounced game entitled It's Mr Pants--no doubt starring the bowler hat- and Y-fronts-wearing moderator of the readers' letters-style "Pantsboard" on Rare's official Web site. The first of the games to be released will be Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, which is currently scheduled to arrive in stores this fall.

　　"Rare is one of the leading original content developers in the interactive space," said Germaine Gioia, vice president of licensing at THQ. "With multimillion worldwide unit sales, Banjo-Kazooie is a perfect addition to THQ's leading handheld catalog. We look forward to working with Microsoft in bringing Banjo-Kazooie and Rare's other new titles to the Game Boy Advance market."

　　"Rare has made world-class games for both console and handheld," said Ken Lobb, studio manager for Microsoft Games Studios. "This agreement with THQ will allow Rare to continue to offer top-level content for the Game Boy Advance fans that know and love Rare. I'm really excited that we can bring all of these excellent games to fellow fans of the Game Boy."

　　We'll bring you more information on all of Rare's GBA games as soon as it becomes available.