Nintendo Unveils Donkey Kong Redesign for Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9

Nintendo is making a significant shift with the Donkey Kong character, introducing a redesign that has caught the attention of fans worldwide. This new look was first spotted in the gameplay footage of Mario Kart 9, showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event. For years, Donkey Kong has maintained a consistent appearance across various titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, the latest iteration seems to draw inspiration from the successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Although the revamped design has only been seen in Mario Kart 9 so far, Nintendo has expanded its use to a new range of Donkey Kong merchandise. As reported by Nintendo Life, a user named cookiemaster221 shared images of these products on Reddit, commenting, "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes."

History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes from donkeykong

The new merchandise highlights Donkey Kong with a softer, friendlier appearance, most notably with his once furrowed brow now rounded. A Reddit user, SmallBlueSlime, noted, "They're giving him the Kirby treatment, but backwards. Instead of making him angry, they're making him chill." Another user expressed mixed feelings, stating, "They really are dead set on redesigning DK. I'm gonna miss that eyebrow looking down. Always made DK seem both kind and strong." Meanwhile, a fan in favor of the new look remarked, "It's alright in my opinion. They probably did it to make him look more goofy and less angry."

Since the brief glimpse in Mario Kart 9, fans have been eager for a more detailed view of the redesign. They will likely get their wish in April when Nintendo hosts a Switch 2 focused Nintendo Direct. The console reveal trailer for the Switch 2 offered only a few hints about the new hardware, confirming its mostly backwards compatibility, a mysterious new button on the Joy-Cons, and validating theories about using the controller as a mouse.