Nintendo Confirms Donkey Kong Bananza Developer: Super Mario Odyssey Team at the Helm

Nintendo has officially put an end to months of speculation by confirming that Donkey Kong Bananza is being developed by the creative team behind Super Mario Odyssey.

This announcement marks a major milestone for fans eagerly awaiting the return of Donkey Kong in a full-fledged, first-party adventure, and it establishes high expectations given the critical and commercial success of Super Mario Odyssey. The confirmation came directly from Nintendo, though the company has yet to reveal further details about the game's leadership or specific team roles.

Previously, the internet community actively discussed who might be responsible for Donkey Kong Bananza, with many assuming it would be handled by one of Nintendo’s most polished internal studios.

Today, those assumptions were validated as the company stated that development responsibilities lie with the Super Mario Odyssey team, renowned for their innovation and expertise with 3D platformers.

According to Nintendo, "the project is being undertaken by the same key developers who brought Super Mario Odyssey to life." Despite this official statement, questions remain about Donkey Kong Bananza's creative direction.

There has been no disclosure regarding the game’s director, composer, or other notable staff often associated with Nintendo’s marquee titles.

It is common for Nintendo to provide in-depth developer perspectives through official interviews or behind-the-scenes features prior to a major launch.

Fans can anticipate additional information to be shared as the game's release approaches. Donkey Kong Bananza is scheduled for a worldwide release on July 17, 2025, coinciding with the launch window for the Nintendo Switch 2.

This timing ensures that the game will serve as a flagship title for the next iteration of Nintendo’s hardware, leveraging the new console’s enhanced features to deliver an ambitious Donkey Kong experience.

Previous games overseen by this development team, such as Super Mario Odyssey, have consistently exceeded sales projections, with Odyssey surpassing 26 million units sold on the Nintendo Switch as of 2024, highlighting the strong demand for quality platforming adventures on Nintendo consoles. For ardent Nintendo fans and industry watchers alike, the confirmation of Donkey Kong Bananza’s developer signals both a commitment to franchise quality and an exciting chapter for the Switch 2 library.

Stay tuned to official Nintendo Direct presentations and the eShop for further updates and in-depth looks at development as the July 2025 release date approaches.

Donkey Kong Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Mario Super Mario Nintendo Switch 2