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

Nintendo's significant overhaul of Donkey Kong's design, initially glimpsed in the Mario Kart 9 gameplay shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling, is now confirmed across a range of merchandise.

Donkey Kong's iconic, decades-old design, seen in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns, is getting a makeover. Many believe the new look bears a resemblance to the character's portrayal in the highly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

While the video game redesign was initially only visible in Mario Kart 9, Nintendo Life highlighted a Reddit post by cookiemaster221 showcasing new merchandise featuring the updated Donkey Kong. The post, titled "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes," sparked considerable discussion.

The merchandise reveals a friendlier Donkey Kong, notably with a softened brow. Commenters on Reddit offered varied opinions. Some compared the change to a "reverse Kirby treatment," noting the shift from an angry to a more relaxed demeanor. Others expressed nostalgia for the original, more intense expression, while others welcomed the "goofy" new look.

This merchandise provides a clearer view of the redesign than the brief and somewhat blurry 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 offered limited details about the console's features, primarily focusing on its aesthetics. However, it did confirm backward compatibility, showcased a new, mysterious button on the Joy-Cons, and validated a circulating theory about using the controller as a mouse.