Nintendo Reveals New Donkey Kong Game and Teases Switch 2 for 2025

In a surprise move during today’s Nintendo Direct, the gaming giant unveiled a brand new Donkey Kong title alongside a subtle but impactful tease of its next-generation hardware, widely believed to be the long-rumored “Switch 2.” The new Donkey Kong game, titled *Donkey Kong Country: Origins*, is set to release in spring 2025 and will feature both single-player and co-op modes, with an emphasis on high-speed, dynamic platforming.

This is the first major Donkey Kong platformer in nearly a decade, and developer Retro Studios is back at the helm, blending the classic side-scrolling elements fans love with modern mechanics and vibrant 3D environments. The trailer showcased Donkey Kong and Diddy swinging through lush jungle canopies, navigating perilous minecart sections, and facing off against new robotic Kremling enemies. The reveal was met with widespread excitement across social media, with fans praising the return of one of Nintendo’s most iconic franchises.

But perhaps even more intriguing was how Nintendo chose to end the showcase. The final moments of the Direct featured a stinger: a brief black screen with the words “A new era begins 2025” alongside the familiar Switch click sound—only this time it echoed with a more metallic, futuristic tone. This subtle tease has led fans and analysts alike to speculate that the Switch’s successor is just around the corner.

Insiders have long suggested that Nintendo was targeting a 2025 release for its next console, and this presentation adds credibility to those claims. Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad tweeted shortly after the Direct, saying, “This is the clearest sign yet that Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) will launch alongside major first-party titles next year.”

Given Nintendo’s history of launching new hardware with flagship games—*Breath of the Wild* alongside the original Switch, for example—the return of Donkey Kong could be a cornerstone release for the next system. With more information expected in the coming months, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year in Nintendo’s storied legacy.