Grant Kirkhope will return to work on the new Mario + Rabbids game, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. He worked on the first game in the series, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. He announced his involvement with the project via Twitter, along with a joke regarding the creative director, Davide Soliani.
and yes I am scoring Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope! I had to request that @DavideSoliani would not be allowed to be a Diva like last time but alas he's already started!🤣
— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) June 12, 2021
Though Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope was supposed to have been revealed during the Ubisoft Forward E3 2021 livestream, Nintendo launched its eShop store page prior to the presentation. During the livestream, the debut and gameplay trailers showed off Rabbids dressed up as iconic Mario characters such as Princess Rosalina. Like its predecessor, the game will use turn-based tactics, as well as both solo and cooperative gameplay.
Aside from his work on the Mario + Rabbids series, Grant Kirkhope also composed soundtracks for Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey 64. He also provided voice acting for Donkey Kong in Mario Kart: Double Dash and the Gameboy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country. Additionally, he contributed arrangements for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope will appear on the Nintendo Switch in 2022, with Grant Kirkhope continuing on as the game’s composer. The first game in the series is immediately available on the Nintendo Switch.