The mystery that’s had the entire gaming community buzzing is finally over. Ever since Donkey Kong Bananza was revealed for the Switch 2, we’ve all been playing detective. The game’s unique mechanics, which see DK tunneling through a subterranean world with almost fully destructible environments, screamed high-quality Nintendo development, but the company stayed completely silent on who was behind the project. Well, the silence has been broken.
Nintendo confirmed today that the masterminds behind Super Mario Odyssey are indeed the team developing Donkey Kong Bananza. The news dropped during a special preview event, where Nintendo told VGC the Tokyo-based team (likely EPD Tokyo) from Odyssey is at the helm. This is the confirmation we’ve been waiting for!
Nintendo confirmed that the masterminds behind Super Mario Odyssey are indeed the team developing Donkey Kong Bananza. The news was first reported by outlets like VGC following a media preview event and was showcased extensively in the dedicated Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Direct on June 18, 2025. It was during this Direct that Nintendo confirmed the Tokyo-based EPD team from Odyssey is at the helm. Furthermore, the presentation revealed that a young Pauline will join DK as a companion character, a major twist for fans.
The Big Secret: Who’s Leading the Donkey Kong Bananza Team?
But, in classic Nintendo fashion, getting one answer only created more questions. While we know the Odyssey team is involved, Nintendo is keeping the names of the project leaders under lock and key. It’s a surprising move, especially after years of celebrating its star developers like Odyssey producers Koichi Hayashida and Yoshiaki Koizumi.
Nintendo’s teams are known to be fluid, with developers often shifting between projects. So, while the core team is there, the specific visionaries guiding Donkey Kong Bananza remain a total mystery. Why the secrecy, Nintendo?
If They’re Making Donkey Kong Bananza, Who’s Making the Next 3D Mario?
This news immediately sparks a huge question for Mario fans: if the Odyssey team is busy with Donkey Kong, what does this mean for the next 3D Super Mario game? As we see it, there are three possible scenarios:
- The same incredibly talented team is pulling double duty, working on both games at once.
- A different internal studio has taken the reins for the next big Mario adventure.
- We might be waiting a while for a true Odyssey successor, with Donkey Kong Bananza being the main platforming focus for the Switch 2’s launch era.
However, recent leaks from creators like KiwiTalkz offer a promising fourth option. He suggests that a new, younger team that grew out of the Odyssey crew is actually heading up Donkey Kong Bananza.
“There are a lot of young developers on the Odyssey team who grew up playing Donkey Kong games and wanted to make one,” he stated, adding that a new 3D Mario is reportedly “still in development.”
If this is true, we could be getting the best of both worlds: a fresh take on Donkey Kong from passionate devs and a new Mario game still on the horizon.
For now, Nintendo is guarding its secrets like a special banana recipe. We’ll get our first real taste when Donkey Kong Bananza officially launches on July 17.
Official Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza game page.
