Summary
Diddy Kong, the companion of sometimes-uncle Donkey Kong ever since the days of theDonkey Kong Countrygames on the SNES, is getting a new makeover for the Nintendo Switch 2 era of gaming. Diddy’s design has stayed pretty consistent since his introduction in 1994’sDonkey Kong Country, and while his larger ape companion is going through a much larger transformation, fans will have to look closer to see Diddy’s changes.
The last bigupdate to Diddy Kong’s appearancewasn’t even for a game, but for Nintendo’s Japanese website. The character’s redesign in 2021 didn’t make any sweeping changes, simply adding some higher-texture rendering to his fur patterns.
New imagery of Diddy Kong has begun circulating from Nintendo, showing off his more modern look. Just like in past iterations, the little monkey still sports a red t-shirt and ball cap, although his hat no longer bears the classic Nintendo logo. He also seems to have gotten just a little rounder in the midsection, as his belly juts out slightly further than before, and his shirt now rides up around his abdomen. But the biggest change of all seems to be the addition of teeth to his formerly gummy open-mouthed smile. Overall, it’s not nearly as drastic a transition as theMario Kart Worldtransformation of Donkey Kong, which fans first spotted in a trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 released in January.
Diddy Kong Joins Donkey Kong in Getting a Switch 2 Makeover
Diddy’s much more subtle transformation may be the result of fan response toDonkey Kong’s new lookfor the Switch 2. The big ape now has much more highly-animated eyes with a brow to match, and his fur looks to be quite a bit shaggier than before, reflecting his appearance in 2023’sThe Super Mario Bros. Movie. Fans have been pretty divided since the reveal of Donkey Kong’s latest makeover, with some approving of his more amicable appearance and others missing his sleeker musculature and steely-eyed gaze. Despite the divide, Nintendo seems committed to the change, so fans should get used to both Donkey and Diddy Kong’s new looks.
At this stage, it’s not entirely clear when fans will see this newly redesigned version of Diddy Kong in a video game. He’s unlikely to be a playablecharacter inMario Kart World, as he’s been absent from the leaks and official reveals of the game’s cast of at least 50 different racers. It’s more likely he’ll be featured inDonkey Kong Bananza, which is set for release on July 17.
Donkey Kong Bananza
WHERE TO PLAY
The big guy is back! Donkey Kong swings onto the Nintendo Switch 2 system with a brand-new action adventure.Help Donkey Kong make his way through the depths of the Underground World. The deeper he goes, the more amazing places he finds! There’s no shortage of things DK can pulverize with his powerful punches. Break on through this truly destructive adventure.Behold the golden bananas! The mysterious group, known as VoidCo, has its eyes on this prized bunch. But no one messes with DK’s favourite food!Golden bananas? The whole island was buzzing about the discovery of this tasty treasure. But then, distaster struck! During the chaos, VoidCo stole every breathtaking bunch of bananas. Now Donkey Kong must venture deep underground to get them back!
