Nintendo’s recent unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 has sparked excitement, but one character’s redesign has captured fans' attention: Donkey Kong. While most characters in the Mario Kart 9 trailer looked familiar, Donkey Kong’s appearance is noticeably different.
For years, Donkey Kong’s design remained consistent across various titles, including Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a revamped design, and Nintendo seems to be integrating this updated look into its games.

Donkey Kong in Mario Kart 8, the animated film, and Mario Kart 9 (Image Credit: Nintendo)Although the
Mario Kart 9 trailer offered only fleeting glimpses of Donkey Kong, the differences are already apparent. A more detailed comparison will be possible after the April Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. This event, while focusing primarily on the console's appearance, hinted at backwards compatibility, a new button on the Joy-Cons, and confirmed a theory about using the controller as a mouse.
Despite a 2025 release window, the Nintendo Switch 2 likely won't launch before June due to numerous worldwide hands-on events, with registration opening shortly.