Donkey Kong Bananza Confirmed to Be Developed by Super Mario Odyssey Team

Donkey Kong Bananza and Super Mario Odessy (Credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo has officially confirmed that the team behind Super Mario Odyssey is leading development on Donkey Kong Bananza, the upcoming 3D platformer launching July 17 for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The confirmation came during a recent hands-on preview session held in New York, where Nintendo’s Vice President of Player and Product Experience, Bill Trinen, addressed attendees via the Switch 2’s GameChat feature. As reported by Game Informer, Trinen confirmed that the developers responsible for the critically acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey are the same ones now steering Donkey Kong’s next big adventure.

Fans had long speculated about the connection, especially given Bananza’s visual style, polished movement, and UI similarities. The confirmation only adds to the excitement, considering Super Mario Odyssey was one of the highest-rated games of 2017, with a Metascore of 97.

While the news is great for Donkey Kong fans, it does raise a question for longtime Mario followers: where’s the next 3D Super Mario game? Since it’s been nearly eight years since Odyssey debuted, speculation has now shifted to whether another Nintendo team is working on Mario’s next major title—or if development happened alongside Bananza.

What’s certain for now is that Donkey Kong Bananza is shaping up to be one of the most important titles for the Switch 2’s launch window. It promises a vibrant 3D platforming experience that builds on the strengths of Odyssey while pushing the series in a fresh direction.

Donkey Kong Bananza launches July 17 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.