Nintendo has confirmed that Donkey Kong 64, the 1999 Rare-developed 3D platformer, will join the Nintendo Switch Online library on June 4, 2026.
The title will be available on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 through the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app, downloadable from the Nintendo eShop for subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
Donkey Kong 64 was developed by Rare and originally released by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 in 1999.
Notably, the original N64 release required the Expansion Pak accessory to run.
The game is a landmark for Rare in the late 1990s and remains one of the more ambitious cartridge releases from the console era.
In a formal announcement, Nintendo said Donkey Kong 64 will be added to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app on June 4, 2026, and that the app is available to users with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription via the Nintendo eShop.
This addition continues Nintendo's program of bringing classic Nintendo 64 titles to the Switch family of hardware for subscribers.
Fan response to the news was immediate and enthusiastic on social channels.
Many players expressed excitement that another major Rare-era franchise is returning to Nintendo platforms, while some community members referenced recent N64 inclusions and legacy favorites such as Diddy Kong Racing and Super Smash Bros. 64 when discussing the broader rollout of classic titles.
Donkey Kong 64 represents a notable moment in Nintendo and Rare history.
Rare delivered several high-profile N64 projects, and the studio was later acquired by Microsoft in 2002.
For Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, Nintendo has been steadily expanding emulation options and curated collections; the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app is the current vehicle for delivering N64 library access to players with the Expansion Pack tier.
Practical details: Donkey Kong 64 will appear in the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app on June 4, 2026, and may be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop by anyone with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
Players seeking to revisit the Rare-developed platformer should ensure their subscription is current on the Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of the launch.
This release continues Nintendo's strategy of preserving and monetizing its back catalog for modern hardware, and it gives both returning players and new audiences the chance to experience a high-profile N64 title on current Nintendo platforms.
The title will be available on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 through the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app, downloadable from the Nintendo eShop for subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
Donkey Kong 64 was developed by Rare and originally released by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 in 1999.
Notably, the original N64 release required the Expansion Pak accessory to run.
The game is a landmark for Rare in the late 1990s and remains one of the more ambitious cartridge releases from the console era.
In a formal announcement, Nintendo said Donkey Kong 64 will be added to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app on June 4, 2026, and that the app is available to users with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription via the Nintendo eShop.
This addition continues Nintendo's program of bringing classic Nintendo 64 titles to the Switch family of hardware for subscribers.
Fan response to the news was immediate and enthusiastic on social channels.
Many players expressed excitement that another major Rare-era franchise is returning to Nintendo platforms, while some community members referenced recent N64 inclusions and legacy favorites such as Diddy Kong Racing and Super Smash Bros. 64 when discussing the broader rollout of classic titles.
Donkey Kong 64 represents a notable moment in Nintendo and Rare history.
Rare delivered several high-profile N64 projects, and the studio was later acquired by Microsoft in 2002.
For Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, Nintendo has been steadily expanding emulation options and curated collections; the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app is the current vehicle for delivering N64 library access to players with the Expansion Pack tier.
Practical details: Donkey Kong 64 will appear in the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics app on June 4, 2026, and may be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop by anyone with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
Players seeking to revisit the Rare-developed platformer should ensure their subscription is current on the Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of the launch.
This release continues Nintendo's strategy of preserving and monetizing its back catalog for modern hardware, and it gives both returning players and new audiences the chance to experience a high-profile N64 title on current Nintendo platforms.