Nintendo is gearing up for its next big showcase: a Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, set to stream Wednesday, June 18 at 6 a.m. PDT / 9 a.m. EDT / 2 p.m. BST. As confirmed via the Nintendo Today app, the short presentation will offer “roughly 15 minutes” of fresh details focused on the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
First revealed in April, Donkey Kong Bananza marks DK’s long-awaited return to full 3D platforming. Since the initial tease, Nintendo has been trickling out just enough info to keep fans guessing—pairing cryptic promotional clips with hints at gameplay mechanics, lore, and a possible twist in the Kong family tree.
What we do know: this isn’t your standard DK platformer. Bananza kicks off on Ingot Isle, a wild and unpredictable place where Donkey Kong stumbles onto a stash of golden bananas hidden deep below the surface. What follows is a chaotic, underground adventure packed with smashable environments, bizarre power-ups, and a curious little companion named Odd Rock—whose origins are already lighting up fan theories across Reddit and beyond. (A leaked image showing a youthful, gem-covered Pauline hasn’t helped calm the speculation.)
Early footage revealed Cranky Kong making an appearance, though other classic Kongs remain MIA. Meanwhile, the villains—VoidCo, a mining corp bent on banana extraction—add a new corporate flavor to the DK mythos.
Nintendo has officially confirmed the game will launch on July 17, 2025, exclusively for Switch 2. Between the new environments, unique bananergy-based powers, and a story that hints at deeper lore, Bananza is shaping up to be far more than just another jungle run.
More details are expected during Wednesday’s stream. Whether it’s new characters, extended gameplay, or even a co-op deep dive, we’ll be watching closely.
