Nintendo has finally unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, and with it, the much-anticipated Mario Kart 9. Fans have been quick to notice that one character, in particular, has undergone a significant redesign, drawing inspiration from The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The trailer showcased over a dozen characters, but it was Donkey Kong's new look that caught everyone's attention.
For years, even decades, Donkey Kong's appearance has remained consistent across various games such as Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, the blockbuster success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a fresh design for the character, and Nintendo seems eager to integrate this into their latest titles.
The brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 offered in the trailer showed Donkey Kong in just a few scenes, and not in great detail, making it challenging to fully compare his new design to the old one at this stage. A clearer view of these changes is expected during the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct in April. While the console reveal trailer focused primarily on the aesthetics of the Nintendo Switch 2, it also confirmed that the hardware will be mostly backwards compatible, introduced a mysterious new button on the Joy-Cons, and validated a theory about using the controller as a mouse.
Although the Nintendo Switch 2 has been announced with a release window of 2025, it's unlikely to hit the shelves before June at the earliest. This delay is due to the numerous hands-on events scheduled worldwide, with registration opening soon.
