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, featured in titles like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns, is undergoing a transformation. Many believe the new look bears a resemblance to his portrayal in the highly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

While the video game redesign was first seen in Mario Kart 9, Nintendo has unveiled new merchandise showcasing this altered appearance. As highlighted by Nintendo Life, Reddit user cookiemaster221 shared images of these products, commenting, "History is being rewritten in front of our very eyes."

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The merchandise reveals a friendlier Donkey Kong, notably with a softened brow. Online comments reflect a mixed reaction. Some users express nostalgia for the previous design, highlighting its blend of kindness and strength, while others find the new, more "chill" look acceptable, suggesting it aims for a goofier, less aggressive persona. One user even compared the change to a "reverse Kirby treatment."

The merchandise provides a more detailed view of the redesign than the brief, somewhat unclear appearances in the Mario Kart 9 trailer. A more comprehensive look at Donkey Kong's new design in action is anticipated in April's Nintendo Direct, focused on the Switch 2.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer itself offered limited details about the console's features, primarily focusing on its visual design. However, it did confirm backward compatibility, showcased a new, mysterious button on the Joy-Cons, and validated a previously circulated theory regarding the controller's functionality as a mouse.