Nintendo has confirmed that Donkey Kong 64 will arrive on Nintendo Switch Online this week, officially launching on June 4, 2026.
The Rare-developed platformer, which originally released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, becomes available for members of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack through the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics library app.
The release brings one of Rare’s most ambitious 3D platformers to current hardware via Nintendo’s subscription service.
Nintendo’s announcement reiterates that access requires the Expansion Pack tier of Nintendo Switch Online; once subscribed, players can download and run Donkey Kong 64 from the Nintendo 64 Classics application alongside other retro titles.
In its promotional summary, Nintendo outlined what players can expect from the Switch Online release.
Paraphrasing Nintendo’s statement: players with an Expansion Pack membership can join the Donkey Kong crew to climb, swim and jump through hazardous and puzzle-filled environments while leveraging each character’s unique abilities and upgrades.
The company noted that the game includes collectible hunting, quirky single-player minigames and four-player split-screen battle arenas, with additional accessories potentially required for multiplayer functionality.
Donkey Kong 64 originally shipped in 1999 and was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64.
The title is notable for its cast of playable characters — Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Tiny Kong, Lanky Kong and Chunky Kong — and for featuring the series antagonist King K.
Rool as the central villain.
The Switch Online release preserves both the single-player adventure structure and the competitive local arenas mentioned in Nintendo’s materials.
Nintendo also released a trailer for the Switch Online version; viewers can find that trailer in Nintendo’s official channels.
As with other additions to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics library, this release is distributed through the Nintendo Switch Online service rather than as a separate eShop purchase.
For players interested in retro collections, the June 4, 2026 arrival of Donkey Kong 64 expands the library available to Expansion Pack subscribers and offers Rare’s large-scale N64 platformer to a modern audience via the Nintendo Switch platform.
The Rare-developed platformer, which originally released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, becomes available for members of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack through the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics library app.
The release brings one of Rare’s most ambitious 3D platformers to current hardware via Nintendo’s subscription service.
Nintendo’s announcement reiterates that access requires the Expansion Pack tier of Nintendo Switch Online; once subscribed, players can download and run Donkey Kong 64 from the Nintendo 64 Classics application alongside other retro titles.
In its promotional summary, Nintendo outlined what players can expect from the Switch Online release.
Paraphrasing Nintendo’s statement: players with an Expansion Pack membership can join the Donkey Kong crew to climb, swim and jump through hazardous and puzzle-filled environments while leveraging each character’s unique abilities and upgrades.
The company noted that the game includes collectible hunting, quirky single-player minigames and four-player split-screen battle arenas, with additional accessories potentially required for multiplayer functionality.
Donkey Kong 64 originally shipped in 1999 and was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64.
The title is notable for its cast of playable characters — Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Tiny Kong, Lanky Kong and Chunky Kong — and for featuring the series antagonist King K.
Rool as the central villain.
The Switch Online release preserves both the single-player adventure structure and the competitive local arenas mentioned in Nintendo’s materials.
Nintendo also released a trailer for the Switch Online version; viewers can find that trailer in Nintendo’s official channels.
As with other additions to the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics library, this release is distributed through the Nintendo Switch Online service rather than as a separate eShop purchase.
For players interested in retro collections, the June 4, 2026 arrival of Donkey Kong 64 expands the library available to Expansion Pack subscribers and offers Rare’s large-scale N64 platformer to a modern audience via the Nintendo Switch platform.