Nintendo Direct Highlights: Donkey Kong Updates

Nintendo treated fans to an exciting Donkey Kong Bananza Direct presentation on Wednesday, June 18th, showcasing fresh details about this upcoming franchise installment. Discover gameplay innovations and meet Pauline, DK's new adventure partner.

Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Highlights

Welcome To The Underground

During their June 18, 2025 presentation, Nintendo unveiled 18 minutes of new Donkey Kong Bananza footage, revealing expansive underground environments to explore and versatile gameplay mechanics. While some gameplay snippets debuted during a previous Nintendo Treehouse Live event, this Direct provided deeper insight into gameplay systems.

The adventure begins when Donkey Kong gets swept from Ingot Isle's Golden Bananas during a violent storm, finding himself in mysterious underground caverns. There he encounters what appears to be a sentient rock named Odd Rock - who soon reveals herself as Pauline, a determined human girl working to return to the surface. Their shared quest leads them toward the legendary Planet Core, rumored to grant wishes to those who reach it. Standing in their way is the villainous Void Company, pursuing their own dark ambitions.

Smash, Throw, Jump, Interact With The Environment

Donkey Kong Bananza introduces highly interactive environments ripe for exploration and creativity. Players can guide DK through running, climbing, and jumping across diverse terrains. The game encourages experimentation - smash obstacles, hurl objects, or build structures to uncover hidden treasures. Different materials behave realistically: hard rocks become projectile weapons while soft sand can construct bridges or platforms.

Co-Op Multiplayer With Pauline

The game revolutionizes multiplayer by transforming Pauline from NPC sidekick to fully playable second character. Using Joy-Con motion controls, Player 2 can utilize Pauline's vocal powers to defeat enemies and interact with the environment. She possesses unique abilities like copying terrain materials to amplify her voice attacks. Through Switch 2's GameShare functionality, players can team up locally between Switch consoles or online via GameChat.

Music Is The Heart of It All, DK Transformation Go!

Pauline's magical singing enables temporary DK transformations into various "Bananza" forms including enlarged versions, zebras, and even flying ostriches. Collect gold to replenish Bananergy and maintain these powered-up states. These transformations create dynamic gameplay transitions between airborne gliding and ground-based destruction. Pauline also serves as an in-game guide through her musical cues during quests.

Outfit Customization, Photo Mode, DK Artist Mode

The game includes several creative features beyond its core platforming action. Players can purchase stylish outfits for both protagonists. A robust Photo Mode offers adjustable camera angles, filters, and editing tools to capture perfect in-game moments. For artistic players, DK Artist Mode provides stone-carving tools to create and decorate sculptures by adding or removing materials.

While these highlights demonstrate Bananza's innovation, the developers promise more surprises at launch. Donkey Kong Bananza arrives exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025. For additional details, visit our comprehensive coverage.