Donkey Kong’s Shocking New Look: What to Expect in the Next Game!

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For quite some time now, the Donkey Kong series has found itself in a sort of standstill. While Donkey Kong remains a popular character across numerous Nintendo hits like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the main Donkey Kong series seems to have been overlooked by the company. The last original, primary game in the series, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, was released exclusively for the Wii U back in 2014. Since then, there hasn’t been much new content specifically for the Donkey Kong franchise, save for some remakes, remasters, and spin-offs.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but ponder about the future of the beloved Donkey Kong series. Since Nintendo seems to be focusing their development resources on other renowned franchises at present, it remains unclear what direction the Donkey Kong universe might take next. Notably, Retro Studios, creators of the latest Donkey Kong Country games, are currently preoccupied with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, leaving little room for a return to the series in the immediate future.

Moreover, most of the mainline Donkey Kong games have already been brought to life on the Nintendo Switch, which means there aren’t many new installments left to remaster. So, while I’m confident that Nintendo will eventually create a fresh Donkey Kong game, it’s likely that this upcoming title will break away from the familiar elements of its predecessors, thanks in part to one significant change.

The Next Donkey Kong Game Will Probably Look Quite Different From its Predecessors

Donkey Kong is Receiving a Redesign in Mario Kart 9

Recently, Nintendo casually revealed the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 and offered a sneak peek into the upcoming title within the popular _Mario Kart_ series. Dubbed as _Mario Kart 9_ by fans, this new game seems to feature an artistic style slightly distinct from its predecessor, _Mario Kart 8 Deluxe_. On closer observation, skilled players will observe that several characters playable in _Mario Kart 9_ have undergone redesigns, with the changes being most noticeable on Donkey Kong.

In the upcoming game, “Mario Kart 9”, Donkey Kong appears noticeably goofier and more cheerful compared to his traditional character depiction. Unlike his usual grumpy appearance with scowling brows, the new Donkey Kong features wide-set, squinty eyes, a robust physique, and an amusing facial expression. It’s intriguing to note that the Donkey Kong in “Mario Kart 9” seems to be more similar to the one from “The Super Mario Brothers Movie” rather than his video game counterpart.

Nintendo is Doubling Down on Donkey Kong’s New Look

The well-known and preferred design of Donkey Kong was originally crafted by Rare and artist Kevin Bayless during the creation of “Donkey Kong Country” in 1994. Despite this version’s enduring popularity, Nintendo seems to be shifting away from it significantly, not just in “Mario Kart.” Eagle-eyed fans have spotted that contemporary Donkey Kong merchandise released by Nintendo features a revamped character design instead of his traditional appearance. While this might be disheartening for some, it seems that the design of Donkey Kong in “Mario Kart 9” is here to stay.

Donkey Kong’s Future Games Will Likely Use His New Character Design from Mario Kart 9

Given how popular Donkey Kong is as a character, there’s a strong possibility that he’ll show up in other games on the Nintendo Switch 2 aside from Mario Kart 9. Some experts believe that Nintendo might be developing a new 3D Donkey Kong game for this console, which would mark the first time since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64 that such a game has been created. Regardless of whether these rumors are accurate or not, it seems almost guaranteed that the next major Donkey Kong release, whatever it ends up being called, will incorporate the character’s redesign from Mario Kart 9.

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2025-01-30 20:39