Nintendo Goes All In on Donkey Kong Redesign Seen in Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 First Look

Nintendo's revamp of Donkey Kong, first glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling, is gaining traction. The character's design, unchanged for decades across titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns, is undergoing a significant transformation, reminiscent of the design in the highly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Initial sightings were limited to Mario Kart 9, but Nintendo has now unveiled a line of merchandise featuring the redesigned Donkey Kong. As highlighted by Nintendo Life, Reddit user cookiemaster221 showcased these products, commenting, "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes."

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The new design presents a friendlier Donkey Kong, notably softening his previously furrowed brow. Online reactions are mixed. Some users compare the change to a "reverse Kirby treatment," shifting his demeanor from stern to relaxed. While some express nostalgia for the classic design, others find the new look more approachable and less intimidating.

This merchandise offers a clearer view of the redesign than the brief, somewhat obscured appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive look at 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 on the console's features, primarily focusing on its aesthetic. However, it confirmed backward compatibility, showcased a mysterious new button on the Joy-Cons, and validated a circulating theory about using the controller as a mouse.