After weeks of speculation and plenty of obvious clues, Nintendo has finally confirmed what fans suspected all along: Donkey Kong Bananza is being developed by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey.
The confirmation comes directly from Nintendo alongside new preview coverage, putting an end to the mystery that surrounded the project since its Switch 2 debut. The team behind it is Nintendo EPD Tokyo, the studio responsible for shaping modern 3D Mario since Super Mario Galaxy. Their very first release was actually a Donkey Kong title, Jungle Beat, which makes this reveal feel like a full-circle moment.
Despite the clear signs such as familiar UI elements, the style of platforming, and the unique approach to co-op, Nintendo had remained unusually quiet about who was leading Bananza’s development.
Now that it’s official, the wait for Mario Odyssey 2 may feel longer. Still, if Donkey Kong Bananza delivers even a fraction of that same quality, this might be a detour fans welcome with open arms.
Donkey Kong Bananza launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.
