Nintendo Unveils Major Donkey Kong Updates in Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 Previews

Nintendo's significant redesign of Donkey Kong, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 footage during the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling, is now confirmed across a range of merchandise. This marks a departure from Donkey Kong's decades-long consistent design, seen in titles such as Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. The new look, reminiscent of the character's portrayal in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is generating considerable fan discussion.

Reddit user cookiemaster221 shared images of the new merchandise, prompting comments about the change. The redesigned Donkey Kong sports a softer, friendlier appearance, notably a less furrowed brow. Some fans compare the transformation to a reverse "Kirby treatment," moving from an angry to a more relaxed demeanor. While some express nostalgia for the original design, emphasizing its blend of kindness and strength, others find the new look acceptable, suggesting it aims for a more playful, less aggressive image.

The merchandise offers a clearer view of the redesign than the brief, somewhat obscured appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive showcase of the redesigned Donkey Kong in action is anticipated during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2, scheduled for April.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself provided limited details about the console's features, primarily focusing on its aesthetic. However, it did confirm backward compatibility, highlighted a new, mysterious button on the Joy-Cons, and validated a circulating theory regarding the controller's potential use as a mouse.