Super Mario Movie Inspires Mario Kart 9 Redesign

Nintendo's recent unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 has sparked excitement, but one character's makeover has captured fans' attention: Donkey Kong. His new design, seemingly inspired by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, marks a significant departure from his established look.

For years, Donkey Kong's appearance remained consistent across various titles, including Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a redesigned Donkey Kong, a look Nintendo now seems to be integrating into its games.

The brief glimpse of Donkey Kong in the Mario Kart 9 trailer reveals noticeable differences from his previous iterations. A detailed comparison will be possible once higher-resolution images are available, perhaps during the anticipated April Nintendo Direct showcasing the Nintendo Switch 2. This event will likely provide a more comprehensive look at the game's visuals.

The Switch 2 reveal trailer offered limited details about the console itself, focusing primarily on its aesthetic. However, it confirmed backward compatibility, showcased a new button on the Joy-Cons, and seemingly validated theories about using the controller as a mouse.

While a 2025 release window has been announced, the Nintendo Switch 2 is unlikely to launch before June, given the numerous planned hands-on events with registrations opening imminently.