Nintendo, known for its focus on creating clever and family-friendly titles, has recently revitalized its Donkey Kong franchise with the release of Donkey Kong: Bananza, a game that has captured the attention of both children and adults. This new title has been highlighted at The Game Awards 2025, where it has received the award for Best Family Game and is competing for Game of the Year, reflecting its success and popularity in the gaming community. Weapons in Nintendo is not something you can do Shigeru Miyamoto, the renowned creator of […]
Nintendo, known for its focus on creating clever and family-friendly titles, has recently revitalized its Donkey Kong franchise with the release of Donkey Kong: Bananza, a game that has captured the attention of both children and adults. This new title has been highlighted at The Game Awards 2025, where it has received the award for Best Family Game and is competing for Game of the Year, reflecting its success and popularity in the gaming community.
Weapons in Nintendo is not something you can do
Shigeru Miyamoto, the renowned creator of Super Mario and project supervisor at Nintendo, has been instrumental in the development of the company’s major franchises. A notable anecdote from his career dates back to the development of Donkey Kong 64, where he was surprised to discover a realistic firearm in the game. In response to this situation, Miyamoto did not hesitate to redesign it, resulting in the iconic ‘Coconut Gun’, a weapon that shoots coconuts, thus aligning with the light-hearted and friendly tone that characterizes the series. This intervention is a testament to Miyamoto’s ingenuity and his commitment to maintaining the family-friendly essence in Nintendo games.
The link between Donkey Kong and family games has remained strong over the years, and the latest installment is no exception. Donkey Kong: Bananza offers colorful settings, destructible platforms, and entertaining challenges, with a narrative featuring DK and Pauline as humorous protagonists. The combination of these elements has not only proven appealing to new generations but has also resonated with long-time fans of the franchise, securing its place as a standout title in the world of video games.
Last night was the Game Awards, a gala that aspires to be the Oscars of video games. And among all the announcements made, of which we have highlighted the most important of the night, they also gave out a few awards. Giving them different weight and importance, it still isn’t the Oscars, but it has become the big gala of video games. And it is also an awards show where it is easy to attend to discover what is being cooked up in the industry at all levels. Before diving into the big winners and losers of each category, it is important […]
Last night was the Game Awards, a gala that aims to be the Oscars of video games. Among all the announcements made, of which we have highlighted the most important of the night, several awards were also given. Giving them different weight and importance, it still isn’t the Oscars, but it has become the major gala of video games. And it is also an awards ceremony where it is easy to attend to discover what is being cooked in the industry at all levels.
Before diving into the big winners and losers of each category, it’s important to provide a brief summary. Knowing how many nominations each of the involved parties had is essential.
The big favorite of the night was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. With 13 nominations, the French game had a hard time not leaving as the big winner of the gala, especially when no one had received so many nominations in the history of the Games Awards. Following closely were Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Ghost of Yotei, with 7 nominations, and Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 6 respectively. Among the surprises were Split Fiction, which only had 4 nominations, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Silent Hill f, which only managed 3.
How did it turn out for everyone? With few surprises, to be honest. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the biggest winner with 9 statuettes out of the 13 that could be won, leaving no room for anyone else. In that sense, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Ghost of Yotei are the big losers of the night, as they went home empty-handed despite all their nominations. A big disappointment for Sony.
Creators, players, and online
Among the most unique categories are those of esports and creators. Here, Counter-Strike 2 stood out particularly. Winning both the award for best esports and having a Counter-Strike 2 team, Team Vitality, win the award for best esports team, Valve has been the big winner in this category. Although there were no surprises, Jung “Chovy” Ji-hoon took home the title of best esports athlete for League of Legends after an excellent Worlds.
For his part, MoistCr1TiKaL has won the award for best content creator of the year. With tough competition from Kai Cenat, it is quite likely that being a much more likable figure in public outside of the streaming fandom itself has had an impact.
Among the awards separated from the rest of the categories, Wuthering Waves won the Players’ Voices largely due to the rewards offered by Kuro Games for players to vote for their game. In the most anticipated game category, GTAVI won, much to absolutely no one’s surprise, and for best adaptation, the second season of The Last of Us took home the big prize. Similarly, Doom: The Dark Ages achieved its only award by winning innovation in accessibility for its numerous difficulty options.
A game that has eclipsed all others
Entering the major categories, it is evident that there is a clear winner above all others. That does not take away from the fact that there have been some quite interesting awards. Mario Kart World won best sports game, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles won best strategy game, and Donkey Kong Bananza won best family game.
In the field of action-focused games, Hades 2 won best action game and Hollow Knight: Silksong won best action-adventure game. The highly questionable Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves won best fighting game, not without controversy.
As no surprise to anyone, ARC Raiders won the award for best multiplayer game. And its main competitor, Battlefield 6, won best sound design, rightly taking the award from Expedition 33. In the impact games category, the interesting South of Midnight won, and No Man’s Sky won for best support. Additionally, The Midnight Walk won best VR game and Umamusume: Pretty Derby won best mobile game, resulting in a well-distributed set of secondary awards.
But at the end of the day, there was only one big winner. A game that took it all. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the awards for best role-playing game, best indie game, best indie debut, best soundtrack and music, best art direction, best narrative, best direction, and game of the year. Accumulating all the technical awards, except one, and all the big awards, becoming the grand prize of the year according to the Game Awards. Even if there has been some controversy over whether it should be considered an indie game or not.
With this, the Game Awards concluded, much less distributed than usual, although with great announcements and a clear winner. Something that gives us a clear perspective on the situation of the mainstream video game industry.
2025 is becoming a standout year in the world of video games, with a variety of titles competing for the prestigious Game of the Year (GOTY) recognition. Among the most acclaimed is Hades 2, the highly anticipated roguelike from Supergiant Games, which has been released in early access and is now available on both PC and the new Switch 2 console. With an average of 95 on Metacritic for its PC version and 94 for Switch 2, Hades 2 has received high ratings, positioning itself as one of the favorites of the year. Hades 2 […]
2025 is shaping up to be a standout year in the world of video games, with a variety of titles competing for the prestigious Game of the Year (GOTY) recognition. Among the most acclaimed is Hades 2, the highly anticipated roguelike from Supergiant Games, which has been released in early access and is now available on both PC and the new Switch 2 console. With an average of 95 on Metacritic for its PC version and 94 for Switch 2, Hades 2 has received high ratings, positioning itself as one of the favorites of the year.
Hades 2 dominates among the audience and critics
Hades 2 surpasses other contenders like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, which have ratings of 93 and 92, respectively. However, it is noteworthy that Hades 2 is tied in score with the ports of The Legend of Zelda, which also hold a 95, although these are not releases from 2025. Critics have praised the evolution of Hades 2, which has improved its content and gameplay through multiple updates since its early access.
In addition to Hades 2, other titles are catching the attention of players, such as Shujinkou, an educational JRPG that has begun to gain recognition, and Blue Prince, released earlier this year with a rating of 92 on Metacritic. Split Fiction is also making a mark, with a score of 91, and is in the conversation, along with other titles like Donkey Kong Bananza, Death Stranding 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which could be on the list of nominees for the Game Awards.
However, this year is not without concerns, especially regarding the acceptance of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the market. Some analysts and players have expressed their worries about the future of the console, which could have a significant impact on its development and on the industry as a whole.
Sound director Naoto Kubo has revealed some of the challenges behind the audio production of Donkey Kong Bananza, the new installment of the Nintendo franchise. Kubo, in a recent interview with the Japanese site Nintendo Dream Web, detailed the use of real melons to record sound effects, a process that required a bountiful harvest during the summer. This recording technique falls under the Foley method, which is used in audio production to capture ambient noises that may not be picked up by a conventional microphone. Let’s break it all! The process […]
Sound director Naoto Kubo has revealed some of the challenges behind the audio production of Donkey Kong Bananza, the new installment of the Nintendo franchise. Kubo, in a recent interview with the Japanese site Nintendo Dream Web, detailed the use of real melons to record sound effects, a process that required a bountiful harvest during the summer. This recording technique falls under the Foley method, which is used in audio production to capture ambient noises that may not be picked up by a conventional microphone.
Let’s break it all!
The process was not easy; the production faced a shortage of quality melons during the fall, which forced the team to wait until the following summer to complete the necessary recordings. “We recorded the sounds of crushing and smashing melons, however, the recordings could only be made right after summer ended”, commented Kubo, highlighting the difficulty of finding ideal melons to achieve the desired sound. Ultimately, the use of these fresh melons made the sound effects so juicy that they were also incorporated into other elements of the game, such as the burgers from Donkey Kong.
In addition to the technical aspects, the game features a large melon in the Resort Layer that Donkey Kong must crush, which adds an emotional challenge for both the character and its creators. Kubo mentions that this type of interaction adds depth to the game, although the game director suggests that players enjoy the experience without being overwhelmed by the detailed lore analysis that is still being discussed in the community.
In summary, while the players of Donkey Kong Bananza enjoy adventures on the Switch 2 platform, it is essential to remember the effort and dedication that the development team has invested, even if that has meant smashing countless melons along the way.
It can now be said with head held high: Donkey Kong Bananza has been a huge success for Nintendo. Just at its launch, it sold 127,000 physical copies in Japan (not counting digital ones), and it doesn’t seem to have lagged behind in the rest of the world. The character, especially after appearing in Super Mario Bros: The Movie, is in a golden moment where he not only has his own particular saga (Donkey Kong Country and its derivatives) but is also a successful supporting character in Mario Kart or Smash Bros. He even has his own attraction in the park […]
It can now be said with pride: Donkey Kong Bananza has been a huge success for Nintendo. Just at its launch, it sold 127,000 physical copies in Japan (not counting digital sales), and it doesn’t seem to have lagged behind in the rest of the world. The character, especially after appearing in Super Mario Bros: The Movie, is in a golden moment where he not only has his own series (Donkey Kong Country and its derivatives) but is also a successful supporting character in Mario Kart or Smash Bros. He even has his own attraction at the Nintendo park! In short, the company can’t live without him… although there was a time when he simply fell into obscurity.
To act like a monkey
In 1981, after a Popeye game created by Shigeru Miyamoto was unable to use the characters due to licensing issues, the author was forced to create his own protagonists, replacing Bluto with an angry gorilla that throws barrels: Donkey Kong. Although Nintendo believed it was going to be a failure, it surprisingly ended up earning 280 million dollars that year, and the following year, with ports to consoles like Coleco and Game & Watch, it brought in an astonishing 4.4 billion more. How could they get rid of that gorilla?
That same year, taking advantage of the momentum, they created Donkey Kong Jr, and in 1983 it was time for Donkey Kong 3. However, the game did not take off (except in Japan), despite being directed by the same Miyamoto. On one hand, it changed the gameplay of the previous two to turn it into a shooter where Stanley -not Mario- had to defend Donkey from a group of bees. On the other hand, it coincided with the crash of the industry and was unable to recover, and the successful character they had created just two years earlier was already doomed to failure.
Moreover, in 1984 they allowed Hudson Soft to create a sort of sequel, The Great Counterattack, which was released only on personal computers exclusive to Japan like the NEC PC-8801. As you can see, it didn’t have much appeal, but Nintendo’s idea to revive the franchise was even worse: to turn the platform game… into a math game. Donkey Kong Jr. Math was released directly for NES and its gameplay was insane: to reach the gorilla, you had to reach numbers and arithmetic symbols until you could match the figure he was holding in his arms. A failure? How is that possible?
Donkey Plof
This was going to be the first in a series of educational NES games, including one where Donkey Kong taught music, but it came to nothing after the sales crash of Donkey Kong Jr. Math. What to do now with a character whose success had been burned out so quickly? Well, they decided to hand it over to SEGA to make a game where Donkey would become… a valet. Yes, as it sounds.
The game in question was going to consist of avoiding cars that were coming and going from the parking lot, and picking up the ones that were requested, which were parked in their spot. That’s all there is to it. Imagine if they saw little future in Nintendo to allow such a nonsense. The mastermind behind this idea was, by the way, an old acquaintance for all lovers of the darker side of video games: Stephen Radosh, the creator of Hotel Mario, probably the worst title in the history of the plumber, created exclusively for CD-i.
It took a decade for Donkey to have a new game, the Game Boy Donkey Kong, in 1994, the same year that the reboot we all know, Donkey Kong Country, finally arrived, a true masterpiece that forever resurrected the gorilla, gave him travel companions, and introduced wild and jungle platforming. For whatever reason, no one has thought of having Donkey teach math again.
Buying a console at launch (what they call an “early adopter”) seems like a good idea on paper: when the rest of the world catches up, you can recommend it, be the best in online matches, and feel like you’ve fully taken advantage of the console’s cycle. However, the reality is slightly different when bugs, updates, and the feeling of being simply a guinea pig for developers arrive. At Nintendo, aware that the audience may feel this way sooner or later, they have prepared a launch catalog for Switch 2 with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong […]
Buying a console at launch (what they call an “early adopter”) seems like a good idea on paper: when the rest of the world catches up, you’ll be able to recommend it, be the best in online matches, and feel like you’ve fully taken advantage of the console’s lifecycle. However, the reality is slightly different when bugs, updates, and the feeling of being simply a guinea pig for developers come into play.
At Nintendo, aware that the audience may feel this way sooner or later, they have prepared a launch catalog for Switch 2 with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, two great games on par with the best of the company. However, from here on, owners of one of these consoles may start to think… What now? Don’t worry: Nintendo always has something up its sleeve so you never feel alone. Better not to ask about the price, though.
Drag x Drive
If you’re wondering “Is it wheelchair basketball?”, the answer is “Yes”. This strange Nintendo exclusive, created mainly to exploit the new function of the Wiimotes as a mouse, will allow you to play on a court where you can run, propel yourself, steal the ball, and score from two wheels. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a system seller, but it might help satisfy your craving for a new game starting August 14.
Kirby: Star Crossed World
Although at first glance Kirby and the Forgotten Land seems just like a remaster of the Switch game, the truth is that it will come with a very juicy extra: an exclusive expansion that will add hours and hours to the already substantial playtime of the original title, one of the best ever featuring the pink ball. If you missed it, starting August 28 you have the chance to get rid of that regret (and, in addition, make those who still don’t have the Switch 2 envious).
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
You always say “This is the last Pokémon I play” and in the end, you end up falling back in. Especially when the last Legends was a complete revolution for the saga: we still don’t know much about Z-A, beyond the fact that it takes place entirely in Luminalia City, but it looks incredible and vrby, in this 2025 you are in luck. It’s going to be our first glimpse of the new generation. On October 16, we will finally have answers. So you won’t have to replay Arceus over and over on your Switch 2!
Metroid Prime 4
It has been 18 years since Metroid Prime 3, but Nintendo doesn’t forget to give us a pat on the back. There is still no specific date for Samus’s return, but we know that now, it will definitely happen. Technically, it is a Switch game that you can also play in its enhanced version, but since it is going to be one of the company’s best-looking games from this new batch, we can only be happy that everyone will be able to try it, right?
Kirby Air Riders
If you like Kirby, you’re in luck this 2025, because the pink ball is back, not only with its own game but also with a sequel to Kirby Air Ride, which was released a whopping 22 years ago. Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the character, is directing it, and since he has also worked on the Super Smash Bros franchise, he deserves, at the very least, a vote of confidence: Has Mario Kart finally found its perfect match? We will find out before the year ends.
Ah! And don’t forget that in 2026 there will be much more fun: Professor Layton, Splatoon, Tomodachi Life, or Rhythm Heaven (finally!) are waiting to show you that, after all, you didn’t make a bad choice buying the Switch 2 at launch. Who said it didn’t have games? Now all you have to do is watch your wallet slowly emptying!
The recent release of Donkey Kong Bananza, the new installment of Nintendo’s iconic action and platforming saga, has been met with enthusiasm from players. However, the joy has been overshadowed by reports of physical discomfort among some fans, who have experienced dizziness and claustrophobia during gameplay. A game with quite chaotic cameras According to various posts on platforms like GameFaqs and Reddit, many players have reported that they cannot enjoy the title for more than 30 to 45 minutes before starting to feel disoriented, and even at times, nauseous. Despite […]
The recent release of Donkey Kong Bananza, the new installment of Nintendo’s iconic action and platforming saga, has been met with enthusiasm from players. However, the joy has been overshadowed by reports of physical discomfort among some fans, who have experienced dizziness and claustrophobia during gameplay.
A game with quite chaotic cameras
According to various publications on platforms like GameFaqs and Reddit, many players have reported that they cannot enjoy the title for more than 30 to 45 minutes before starting to feel disoriented, and even at times, nauseous. Although some have tried adjusting the camera settings, the improvement has not been sufficient for everyone. One player shared that reducing the vibration and eliminating motion controls were not effective, indicating that the only way to maintain concentration during the game is by focusing on the destructibility of the environments.
On the other hand, it is important to note that not all players have experienced this type of discomfort. Many, including some journalists, have enjoyed the game without significant issues. However, what initially seemed like an exciting feature, such as the ability to destroy environments, has turned out to be a challenge for a part of the gaming community.
Despite these inconveniences, Donkey Kong Bananza continues to be considered one of the best titles of the year, highlighting its chaotic and addictive gameplay. Sources have suggested that Nintendo may be working on future updates to address these gameplay issues. If these improvements are made, they are expected to contribute to a more enjoyable and accessible experience for all players.
A new Nintendo Direct could be on the horizon, according to the reliable source Nate the Hate. During a podcast on July 14, Nate mentioned that a Direct is expected this month, although it will not take place until after the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, scheduled for July 17 on Switch 2. This release is significant for Nintendo and could mark the beginning of a series of important announcements. A highly anticipated Nintendo Direct by the community. In addition, a Pokemon Presents event is scheduled for July 22, which suggests that there could be a […]
A new Nintendo Direct could be on the horizon, according to the reliable source Nate the Hate. During a podcast on July 14, Nate mentioned that a Direct is expected this month, although it will not take place until after the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, scheduled for July 17 on Switch 2. This release is significant for Nintendo and could mark the beginning of a series of important announcements.
A highly anticipated Nintendo Direct by the community
Additionally, an event for Pokemon Presents has been scheduled for July 22, suggesting that there could be a week full of news related to Nintendo. Nate the Hate, acknowledging the proximity of both events, indicated that the possibility of a Nintendo Direct taking place in the same week as the Pokemon event is not unprecedented, which opens the door to several important announcements.
Among the speculations about what could be revealed in the upcoming Direct, the possibility of a Donkey Kong movie project or the confirmation of Red Dead Redemption II for Switch 2 is mentioned. Additionally, Activision has expressed interest in bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo’s console, which could be a hot topic in future presentations.
It is relevant to note that Nintendo has not held a Direct in July 2023 or July 2024, which adds a level of uncertainty regarding the regularity of these events. However, since the company’s next earnings report will be published on August 1, announcements for a Direct could be aligned with the presentation of these financial results.
Nintendo fans and followers should keep an eye on the Nintendo Today app and other official platforms for any last-minute announcements as this potential narrative around the Nintendo Direct unfolds.
Nintendo and Universal Pictures have decided to join forces to bring Donkey Kong to the big screen, thus closing a cycle of tensions that began in 1982. In that year, Universal sued Nintendo, arguing that its famous monkey benefited from the popularity of King Kong. However, 43 years later, the relationship between both companies is now idyllic, and they have taken the first steps to produce a Donkey Kong movie that has not yet been officially announced. A relationship with a lot of tensions Recently, the U.S. Copyright Office has registered an agreement that indicates […]
Nintendo and Universal Pictures have decided to join forces to bring Donkey Kong to the big screen, thus closing a cycle of tensions that began in 1982. That year, Universal sued Nintendo, arguing that its famous monkey was benefiting from the popularity of King Kong. However, 43 years later, the relationship between both companies is now idyllic, and they have taken the first steps to produce a Donkey Kong movie that has not yet been officially announced.
A relationship with a lot of tensions
Recently, the U.S. Copyright Office has registered an agreement indicating concrete progress in the production process of this project. This strategic move took place between May and June of this year, coinciding with the imminent release of Donkey Kong Bananza and the upcoming sequel to Super Mario Bros: The Movie, suggesting careful calculation by both companies in their marketing.
Developing movies based on video games is a process that can be lengthy; the case of the Minecraft movie, for example, took ten years to materialize. Although the agreement has been recorded, this does not guarantee that the movie will be released in the near future, as film projects can take years to come to fruition.
Even so, Donkey Kong has become a priority for Nintendo, as evidenced by its recent moves. However, the movie of The Legend of Zelda is still considered more relevant in terms of future productions. With the success of the Super Mario Bros film saga at Universal Pictures, fans are eager for what may come from this new project. Rumors suggest it could be a spin-off, although no official information has been disclosed so far.
Nintendo has confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza, a new title that will be exclusive to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console, is in development. This game is being developed by EDP Tokyo, the same studio responsible for Super Mario Odyssey, a title that has sold over 29 million copies and has redefined the platforming genre since its release in 2017. Donkey Kong is great, but where is Mario? The news has sparked a debate among fans. While Donkey Kong Bananza promises to be a unique experience, many followers of the Super Mario saga feel anxious […]
Nintendo has confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza is in development, a new title that will be exclusive to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console. This game is being developed by EDP Tokyo, the same studio responsible for Super Mario Odyssey, a title that has sold over 29 million copies and has redefined the platforming genre since its release in 2017.
Donkey Kong is great, but where is Mario?
The news has sparked a debate among fans. While Donkey Kong Bananza promises to be a unique experience, many followers of the Super Mario saga feel anxious about the lack of information regarding a new 3D game featuring the iconic plumber. Former marketing directors of Nintendo, such as Kit Ellis and Krista Yang, have speculated that, given EDP Tokyo’s commitment to Bananza, fans may have to wait several years to see a new Mario title. According to Yang, the development process of this team is not quick, suggesting that a new 3D Mario game may not arrive until the middle or even the end of the next generation of consoles.
Despite these concerns, the community also speculates that the nearly eight years since the release of Odyssey may have allowed EDP Tokyo to work on several projects in parallel. In fact, it is rumored that Nintendo might release a package that includes a new Super Mario 3D game, along with the Switch 2, to coincide with the premiere of the second Super Mario Bros. movie in April 2026.
Meanwhile, fans will be able to enjoy Donkey Kong Bananza, which will be released on July 17. This announcement has generated excitement among the series’ followers, who not only expect a great video game but also wonder when Mario will return in his own 3D adventure.
