Donkey Kong Bananza live blog: join us for a closer look at Switch 2's next big game
DK is back, and he's coming to Nintendo Switch 2 very soon
Update: Go here to read about this week’s Nintendo Switch 2 restock in the US if you want to find the console in stock, and read our in-depth Nintendo Switch 2 review.
🚨 We’re covering the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct live on The Shortcut!
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🍌 The Direct will list approximately 15 minutes
👉 The event begins at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST
9:17 am ET: And that’s it! Donkey Kong Bananza is coming July 17 and this picture below captures my hype levels for the game. The Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo will also be available July 17, and pre-orders are available now from the Nintendo eShop. I can’t wait to play this.
9:16 am ET: Okay, Nintendo has really gone all out here. There’s a separate sculpting game mode outside of the main title? You can paint, carve, and create all sorts of creations. The game also supports amiibo, and a DK and Pauline amiibo will be released. Scan it to get an exclusive dress for Pauline.
9:15 am ET: Wow, there really is crazy amount to do in this game, including two-player co-op! Pauline can unleash vocal blasts, making the game easier than if you were going alone. Donkey Kong Bananza will also support GameShare, letting you play the game’s co-op mode with only one copy of the game.
9:13 am ET: Skill points? In a Donkey Kong game? Yep. You can upgrade DK’s abilities and learn new skills. You can even customize DK and Pauline’s look by purchasing new clothing. They also include skill boosts and benefits. Nice!
9:10 am ET: Collecting Bananium Gems will be a big part of Donkey Kong Bananza. They’re hidden all over the world, but also available to find by completing challenges. There’s even side-scrolling levels. Gotta collect ‘em all!
9:10 am ET: These dastardly trio are called the Void Company, and they’re trying to reach the core before anyone else and stopping others in their way. It’ll be up to DK to stop them, hopefully with a nice well-timed punch.
9:08 am ET: Doesn’t this game look absolutely gorgeous? I can’t wait to see how this looks on the Switch 2’s new screen and my 4K TV. There will be loads of inhabitants to meet, and DK can also transform thanks to Pauline’s singing abilities. He can turn into an Ostrich, Zebra, and more. There’s so much more to this game than we first thought.
9:05 am ET: DK can destroy almost everything in his path, thanks to the destructible environment. You’ll find secrets and carve out new paths. DK has various abilities that will help him find delicious bananas. You can punch, swing rocks, and even surf on the turf. It’s an expansive moveset, and should make traversal and exploration extremely fun.
9:02 am ET: It’s time for DK. Donkey Kong! And a new reveal, DK’s friend “Odd Rock” is actually a talented young singer called… Pauline! Yes, that Pauline. The unlikely duo are setting off on a strange adventure, where the scenery changes the deeper you go under ground. Pauline hangs onto DK’s back. It’s rather sweet!
8:48 am ET: Welcome to our Donkey Kong Bananza live blog! Nintendo is set to showcase the next big first-party game heading to Nintendo Switch 2 today. Most of the game remains a mystery, as we’ve only seen a few gameplay highlights during Nintendo’s Treehouse Live presentation.
However, today should give us a better look at what Donkey Kong Bananza has in store. The game is due to release on July 17, which means it’s less than a month away. It marks the return of a 3D Donkey Kong game for the first time since Donkey Kong 64, which was released in 1999 for the N64.
We’re also see DK’s brand-new look that’s more reminiscent of how our favorite tie-wearing ape appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Shigeru Miyamoto, Donkey Kong's creator, stated that the redesign was influenced by the desire to give the character more nuanced facial expressions and body language.
If you’ve already got hold of a Switch 2 (if you haven’t, make sure you subscribe to The Shortcut for the latest Switch 2 restock alerts) you’ll have seen the new DK in action in Mario Kart World. And yeah, he’s certainly more expressive than the previous design, even though it takes a little getting used to.
We’ll be rounding up all the biggest updates from the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct right here, so come join me for a short, but hopefully sweet, presentation. You’d be bananas to miss it.
Up next: Nintendo Switch 2 review: bigger, faster, and the best handheld since Game Boy
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.