Nintendo's recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 has sparked excitement, but one character's makeover has captured fans' attention: Donkey Kong. His new design, seen briefly in the Mario Kart 9 trailer, bears a striking resemblance to his appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
For years, Donkey Kong's design remained consistent across various titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, the movie's successful reimagining seems to have influenced his updated look in the upcoming game.
The fleeting glimpses of Donkey Kong in the Mario Kart 9 trailer aren't sufficient for a detailed comparison. A more thorough side-by-side analysis will likely be possible after the April Nintendo Direct, which is expected to showcase the Nintendo Switch 2 in greater detail. The console reveal trailer offered a sneak peek at the Switch 2's aesthetics, backwards compatibility, new Joy-Con buttons, and confirmed a controller-as-mouse functionality.
While a 2025 release window has been announced, the Nintendo Switch 2 is unlikely to launch before June, given the upcoming global hands-on events.
