Donkey Kong Bananza Was A Switch 1 Title, Nintendo Says

Originally planned for a different release, Donkey Kong Bananza is now a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launching next week. Initially, the game was conceived as a title for the Nintendo Switch 1.

In a new interview with IGN, producer Kenta Motokura explained that development began on the Nintendo Switch 1. However, while creating the "voxel" technology that powers the game's destruction mechanics, the team determined that the Nintendo Switch 2 would deliver the best experience for this feature.

Director Kazuya Takahashi elaborated on the "continuity of destruction" philosophy in Donkey Kong Bananza. This design encourages players to demolish part of the environment to receive a reward, which then uncovers another destructible area for further rewards. According to Takahashi, the team felt they could fully explore this concept with the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2.

"This enabled us to craft a remarkably diverse range of materials and implement vast environmental changes using the new hardware," he said. "Since destruction is central to gameplay, preserving the player’s moment of curiosity—wondering if they can break something—was crucial. That sense of surprise has a powerful impact, and it was best achieved on the Switch 2."

"Beyond the processing power, other aspects of the Switch 2 opened up exciting possibilities. Features like mouse controls in co-op play allow a second player to direct Pauline’s vocal blasts or manage DK Artist, a mode focused on sculpting extensive voxel sets."

Another major Nintendo Switch 2 title, Mario Kart World, followed a similar development path. Before its release, it was revealed that Mario Kart World also started development on the Nintendo Switch 1 before transitioning to the Switch 2 to support its open-world design and 24-player multiplayer.

We discussed a variety of topics with Motokura and Takahashi, from the game’s origins to the decision behind Pauline's 13-year-old portrayal. The full interview is available here, along with our hands-on preview of the game.