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

Nintendo has taken a bold step by unveiling a fresh redesign of Donkey Kong, first spotted by fans in the gameplay reveal of Mario Kart 9 during the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement event. This iconic character, who has maintained the same look across various titles such as Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns for years—even decades—is now receiving a visual update that many believe draws inspiration from the acclaimed The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The revamped appearance of Donkey Kong has so far been showcased in Mario Kart 9, but Nintendo has expanded this redesign into a new line of merchandise. As reported by Nintendo Life, user cookiemaster221 shared images of these products on Reddit, sparking a flurry of reactions. "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes," cookiemaster221 commented, capturing the sentiment of many fans.

History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes
byu/cookiemaster221 indonkeykong

The new merchandise features Donkey Kong with a more approachable and friendly demeanor, characterized by a softer, rounded brow. Reddit user SmallBlueSlime likened this change to "giving him the Kirby treatment, but backwards," suggesting that while Kirby's design often leans towards cuteness, Donkey Kong's new look shifts from a traditionally stern expression to a more relaxed and 'chill' one.

Opinions on the redesign vary among fans. Some express nostalgia for Donkey Kong's previous eyebrow, which they felt conveyed both kindness and strength. Others, like one fan who finds the new look acceptable, believe the change aims to make Donkey Kong appear more humorous and less intimidating.

Since the initial glimpse in Mario Kart 9, where Donkey Kong's new design was only briefly visible, fans are eagerly awaiting a more detailed showcase. This is expected to happen in April during a Nintendo Direct focused on the Nintendo Switch 2. The console reveal trailer for the Switch 2 offered just a few hints about the new hardware, confirming its mostly backwards compatibility, a new button on the Joy-Cons, and supporting the theory that the controller can function as a mouse.