Iron Galaxy Studios has announced it will be removing a controversial Easter egg from the recently released remake of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. The asset in question, a mock video game cover titled “Banjo Champion” found in a trash can within the game’s Waterpark level, was seen by many as a not-so-subtle jab at the Guitar Hero franchise, formerly developed by Neversoft.

Background and Fan Reaction

The visual reference, which mimicked Guitar Hero’s iconic branding and included a Neversoft logo, quickly caught the attention of players online. Some viewed it as a humorous nod to past franchises associated with Activision, while others considered it a disrespectful dismissal of Neversoft’s legacy. Community debate erupted on platforms like Reddit, where fans were split between seeing it as a clever inside joke or an unnecessary slight. While some users called for its removal, others defended it as being in the satirical spirit of the Tony Hawk games.

Developer Response

In response to the feedback, Iron Galaxy issued a statement clarifying that the reference was not intended to offend or devalue anyone’s work. “We have the utmost respect for anyone who makes games,” the developers shared in a Reddit comment. “We’re investigating how that got in there in the first place. Thank you to the community for bringing this to our attention and we’ll be removing that from the environment art in the next update.” The studio emphasized that the content did not align with its creative values and that steps are being taken to understand how it made its way into the final build.

Update Plans and Next Steps

Iron Galaxy confirmed that the “Banjo Champion” artwork will be removed in the upcoming patch. The team is also conducting an internal review to determine how the asset was approved for inclusion. While the developers are moving quickly to address the matter, they’ve also acknowledged the fan conversation it sparked and expressed appreciation for the community’s vigilance and feedback.