Donkey Kong Bananza Transitioned to Nintendo Switch 2: Developers Discuss Enhanced Features and New Controls

Nintendo’s highly anticipated Donkey Kong Bananza is set to make its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2, confirming months of speculation regarding the game’s development platform.

With a scheduled release date of July 17, 2025, Donkey Kong Bananza stands out for its cutting-edge features, expanded game mechanics, and the power harnessed from Nintendo’s next-generation hardware. Initially, Donkey Kong Bananza began development for the original Nintendo Switch, widely known as the Switch 1.

In a recent exclusive interview with IGN, Producer Kenta Motokura and Director Kazuya Takahashi shared that the project was conceived using innovative voxel technology, the same system that enables extensive destructible environments within the game.

However, upon learning of the imminent arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, Motokura explained, the team saw a unique opportunity to fully realize their creative ambitions.

"As our development progressed and we discovered what the Switch 2 could offer, it became clear that our voxel-based vision, including new applications and ideas, would be best executed on the new hardware," Motokura said. Takahashi continued, emphasizing the importance of continuity in environmental destruction gameplay—a key feature distinguishing Donkey Kong Bananza from other platformers.

"The broader capabilities of Switch 2 enabled us to expand on the core experience.

Players can encounter a diverse range of materials and witness large-scale transformations in the environment, supporting a more immersive and surprises-filled adventure.

Most notably, moments where players wonder if a terrain can be destroyed are now even more impactful," Takahashi added. Beyond hardware power, the Switch 2 introduces new device features, such as mouse controls, which the development team eagerly integrated into gameplay.

Demonstrated during a recent Nintendo Direct, these controls allow a second player in multiplayer mode to manage abilities like Pauline's vocal blasts.

Other enhancements, including the DK Artist mode, let players sculpt vast voxel structures, further showcasing the flexibility brought by the Switch 2’s new input methods. This transition aligns with a growing trend at Nintendo.

Earlier, Mario Kart World’s developers revealed a similar shift from Switch 1 to Switch 2, with the new hardware finally enabling their full creative vision.

According to an Ask the Developer interview, creating the intended features on the previous system proved too challenging—a sentiment echoed by the Bananza team. As the July 17, 2025 release approaches, excitement continues to build among the Nintendo community.

Donkey Kong Bananza looks poised to leverage the Nintendo Switch 2’s advanced technology, expanding the boundaries of the franchise through destructible environments, innovative controls, and robust cooperative play.

With the eShop and Nintendo Direct presentations fueling anticipation, Nintendo’s latest platform can expect a major launch title in Donkey Kong Bananza.

Nintendo Switch 2 Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Switch 2 Switch Switch 1 developers Bananza Kenta Motokura Kazuya Takahashi Nintendo Direct eShop