Nintendo has officially confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza is being developed by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. The announcement came during a recent preview event at Nintendo’s UK office, attended by Eurogamer, where representatives from the company revealed new details about the project and its creative leadership.
The development is being handled by Nintendo EPD Tokyo’s Group 8, the studio long celebrated for its work on every major 3D Mario title since Super Mario Galaxy. This partnership marks a reunion of sorts, as Group 8 first collaborated on Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for the GameCube. Their return to the DK universe has fans recalling the innovative platforming and imaginative worlds that defined Jungle Beat.
Early previews hint at a blend of nostalgia and fresh mechanics. Donkey Kong and Pauline are set to team up once more, while a new long range slingshot attack promises to shake up traditional gameplay. Music will play a dynamic role, woven into open-world banana foraging that encourages exploration and rhythmic interaction. These elements suggest a game crafted to delight series veterans and newcomers alike. The biggest question now is, will this affect the development of the nex 3D Mario? Hopefully not at all, since Nintendo now has more resources to handle more big budget games like this.
Despite its joyful chaos, Bananza’s narrative raises intriguing questions about Donkey Kong lore. The simultaneous appearance of a young Pauline alongside a scene stealing Cranky Kong has fans speculating whether this is a prequel, sequel, or standalone tale, as it seemingly contradicts established timelines from the original arcade Donkey Kong through Donkey Kong Country 1994.
Donkey Kong Bananza is scheduled for exclusive release on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025, and we already have the final previews. With the Odyssey team deeply involved in this new DK adventure, fans are left wondering when the next full-scale 3D Mario experience will arrive. Since Super Mario Odyssey’s launch in October 2017, Nintendo has kept its flagship 3D platformer series on hiatus, making Bananza’s development both a celebration of past successes and a tantalizing hint at the company’s future direction.
