The recent Donkey Kong Bananza Direct has received a highly positive response, boosting anticipation for the upcoming Switch 2 title.
Many believe Donkey Kong Bananza might be developed by Nintendo’s premier team, Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD), known for titles like Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Super Mario Odyssey. EPD is also expected to handle Mario’s first 3D game on Switch 2.
While Nintendo has not confirmed the development team behind Donkey Kong Bananza, former senior Nintendo employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang have speculated that EPD could be responsible. This aligns with earlier rumors dating back to 2021.
Ellis noted that if EPD is developing Donkey Kong, fans might face a long wait for the next 3D Mario title. “That team is incredible,” he said, “but they are not fast or prolific.” Yang added that the wait could extend four to five years, making Mario’s 3D debut a mid-to-late generation release on Switch 2. She also suggested Nintendo might be withholding team details to avoid disappointing fans hoping for a sooner announcement.
Nintendo has a history of collaborating with external studios, including Bandai Namco, and internal affiliates like Retro Studios, which revitalized Donkey Kong on the Wii and Wii U. UK-based Rare, now owned by Microsoft, notably rebooted the franchise in 1994.
Donkey Kong Bananza is scheduled for release on Switch 2 on July 17.
Update: Kit Ellis clarified that neither he nor Krysta Yang were executive-level staff at Nintendo, correcting earlier statements. Nintendo Life apologizes for any confusion.