New rumours about 3D Donkey Kong: When will the Nintendo game finally be released for the Switch?
A podcast is fuelling the emotions of the Donkey Kong fan community. Find out what's behind all the talk about the new game and why I want it so much here.
Diverse gaming portals have picked up on a new rumour that Nintendo is still working on an open-world version of the classic game Donkey Kong. The rumour originates from the "Nintendo Prime" podcast, in which an allegedly leaked sequence of the game is discussed. How true this rumour is remains to be seen - especially as the podcast is the only source. Nevertheless, this fact does not stop Donkey Kong fans from talking shop on the internet about what the new game might look like. The fact that the new Donkey Kong game for the Switch is to be a 3D game is fuelling the creativity of some particularly eager fans: There are looks of a possible new three-dimensional Kong world circulating on YouTube - and as a Nintendo fangirl, I get all banana-yellow at the sight of them.
Will it be an open-world game?
Discovering a 3D world with Donkey Kong, his friends Diddy and Dixie (the one with the blonde swirly ponytail!) or the slightly rattly monkey grandpa Cranky Kong would be nice. Because the only DK game currently available for the Switch, "Tropical Freeze", is a 2D game - a classic platform game. The monkey troop jumps and runs across beaches and hills and swings from vine to vine to save the world from evil penguins and dodos. Sure, it's fun, but at least since my first contact with "World of Warcraft" I appreciate the freedom that comes with an open-world game. As a player, I am no longer tied to a clear sequence of actions and feel less whipped through the levels. I like the feeling of conquering a virtual world on my own and looking left and right behind a bush - or in this case, a palm tree.
In addition, "Tropical Freeze" was not developed for the Switch, but was launched for the WiiU back in 2014. Nintendo then released the game for the Switch in 2018. In other words, the Switch lacks its own Donkey Kong game - and it's high time it did.
Release date unclear - unfortunately
The only question is: When will it finally be released? Perhaps the game will come with the release of the Switch 2, which according to Networld could be in winter 2023 - just in time for the Christmas shopping season. After all, a new Switch model with more power would also bring more possibilities for a 3D adventure.
However, if there is finally a worthy successor to "Tropical Freeze" in the foreseeable future, I would be there in a heartbeat! And who knows: maybe my Yoshi collection will expand to include a monkey with a tie...
Cover photo: NintendoAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.