Nintendo Direct Leak Suggests Surprise Zelda Announcement and Donkey Kong Revival

A major leak ahead of the anticipated summer Nintendo Direct has sent speculation into overdrive, as new details suggest that a surprise Zelda announcement and a long-awaited Donkey Kong revival may be on the way. The leak, which surfaced late last night on gaming forum ResetEra, comes from a user with a history of accurate Nintendo-related information — including last year’s reveals of Metroid Prime Remastered and Pikmin 4.

According to the leak, Nintendo is planning to unveil a brand-new 2D Zelda title — a spiritual successor to “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds” — set in an entirely new region but echoing classic top-down gameplay. Fans have been clamoring for another entry in the traditional top-down Zelda lineage ever since 2019’s “Link’s Awakening” remake. If accurate, this could serve as a major announcement to tide fans over as they await news on the next 3D Zelda installment following last year’s “Tears of the Kingdom.”

Equally exciting is the rumored return of Donkey Kong in a new 3D adventure game — the first since 1999’s beloved “Donkey Kong 64.” The leak points to a full reboot handled internally by Nintendo EPD, suggesting this could be a tentpole release aimed at reviving one of the company’s most iconic mascots for a new generation. This lines up with earlier rumors that Nintendo is looking to build out more multimedia content around Donkey Kong, potentially spurred by the character’s expanded role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

With a summer Nintendo Direct typically arriving in late June or early July, the timing of this leak has sparked renewed hype among the fan community. While Nintendo has yet to comment on the rumors, the company has a long history of surprise reveals in its live streams — and both titles would be fitting headliners for a summer showcase.

As always, take leaks with a healthy dose of skepticism, but if these tidbits prove true, Nintendo’s summer could be packed with nostalgia-fueled excitement and fresh adventures for two of its most beloved franchises.