After months of fan speculation and mounting clues, Nintendo has officially confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza is being developed by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. This news solidifies the game’s high-profile status and gives fans a compelling reason to be excited about Donkey Kong’s return to 3D platforming for the first time in over 25 years.
A New Era for the Kong
Donkey Kong Bananza is Nintendo’s first fully 3D Donkey Kong game since the Nintendo 64’s Donkey Kong 64, released back in 1999. While 2D sidescrollers like Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze have kept the character alive and swinging, this new title represents a dramatic leap forward in scope and ambition. With Nintendo’s EPD Tokyo the creative force behind Super Mario Galaxy, 3D World, and Odyssey now confirmed as the developer, expectations have skyrocketed.
The Talent Behind the Bananza
EPD Tokyo’s involvement brings heavyweight creative talent to the project. Kenta Motokura, director of Super Mario Odyssey, is serving as producer on Bananza, while Kazuya Takahashi is leading as director. Takahashi previously worked on environmental design for Odyssey and has a background in world-building a vital skill given Bananza’s emphasis on destructible terrain and expansive levels.
What makes this even more interesting is that Bananza reportedly builds on gameplay mechanics prototyped during Odyssey’s development, including terrain deformation and environmental interaction systems that were ultimately shelved at the time due to hardware limitations.
Powered by Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananza was originally conceived for the original Nintendo Switch, but development was moved to the upcoming Switch 2 to fully take advantage of its upgraded hardware. The result is a game capable of massive-scale terrain destruction and seamless two-player co-op across sprawling 3D jungles, mines, and factories.
According to developers, the move to Switch 2 was what allowed them to realise the game’s full vision something not possible on the aging Switch hardware. Players can expect a visually vibrant world with interactive environments that dynamically react to Donkey Kong’s movement and combat.
What We Know So Far
- Developer: Nintendo EPD Tokyo (Super Mario Odyssey team)
- Director: Kazuya Takahashi
- Producer: Kenta Motokura
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
- Release Date: July 17, 2025
- Key Features:
- Full 3D platforming in expansive, destructible environments
- Seamless local and online co-op
- Jungle-based voxel terrain with evolving ecosystems
- Collectibles tied to an evolving hub world reminiscent of Odyssey’s kingdoms
A Signal of Confidence
Nintendo’s decision to announce the development team publicly is rare. Typically, Nintendo allows fans to discover who made their games only through the credits. That they’re now openly associating Donkey Kong Bananza with the Odyssey team suggests a high level of internal confidence and a desire to position this game as one of Switch 2’s major pillars.
It also gives fans a clue about the near future of Nintendo’s release roadmap. With EPD Tokyo focused on Donkey Kong, it may be a while before we see a true sequel to Super Mario Odyssey. In the meantime, though, Bananza looks ready to deliver that same mix of exploration, joy, and kinetic movement just through the lens of banana peels instead of Power Moons.
Donkey Kong has always been a Nintendo icon, but this marks a serious moment of reinvention for the character. With the Odyssey team at the helm.
Banana hoarders, get ready. July 17 can’t come soon enough.
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