The excitement among Nintendo fans is running sky-high this July, as Nintendo has made it public that a brand-new Donkey Kong title is being developed for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Worth every penny to arrive in stores on July 17th, 2025, the game—working title Donkey Kong Bananza for the time being—is being worked upon by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey, one of the highest-rated titles for the Switch.
What We Know So Far
Nintendo broke the news in a spontaneous July Direct, treating fans to a surprise teaser trailer of Donkey Kong swinging between rainbow jungles, city ruins, and air islands, suggesting a large-scale 3D platformer is in the works. It’s the biggest standalone Donkey Kong release since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was first released for the Wii U back in 2014 (and was later ported to the Switch in 2018).
The game is said to be built ground-up for Switch 2 hardware, featuring stunning graphics, faster loading, and more environmental interaction, according to internal sources and reports. While Nintendo still hasn’t shown full gameplay, the teaser did have a co-op suggestion, which could or might include Diddy Kong, Cranky Kong, and Dixie Kong as playable characters.
Mario Odyssey Veterans-honed dev
What really has hype building is the development team working on the game. Led by Nintendo EPD Group 8—the same folks who brought us Super Mario Odyssey—this new Donkey Kong game ought to inherit the creative level design, rich exploration elements, and polish that made Odyssey.
Nintendo sources say this game will go deep on innovative traversal action, such as vine swinging, barrel blaster action, and even mine cart sections in open-ended levels that blend linear platforming with sandbox-style exploration. Pre-release artwork leaks also suggest a possible return for classic bosses such as King K. Rool in a new, updated form.
Launched Alongside the Switch 2
The July 17 release timing coincides with what will probably be the launch window of the Nintendo Switch 2, so Donkey Kong Bananza is a natural flagship title. Nintendo will leverage this release to emphasize the capabilities of their next-generation hardware, including 4K output when docked and better performance in portable play.
Why This Matters
For veteran Nintendo fans, this is not another game—it’s the return of one of gaming’s most iconic characters for what could be his largest adventure yet. With the massive box office smash of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and continued hype surrounding Nintendo’s classic properties, Donkey Kong Bananza could have a significant role in the company’s next-gen strategy.
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