Nintendo reveals that Donkey Kong Bananza is developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team – then confirms grass is still green

Nintendo has revealed that Donkey Kong Bananza is developed by the team behind Super Mario OdysseyThis was confirmed by a representative at a hands-on preview eventThe representative would not confirm the game's director, or any other detailsTo no one's surprise, Nintendo has finally officially confirmed that the upcoming action platformer Donkey Kong Bananza is developed by the same team as Super Mario Odyssey.The information comes from a recent hands-on preview event at Nintendo's UK office, where a representative explained that this is the case.Interestingly, the representative would not indicate whether Odyssey director Kenta Motokura was also taking on a similar role this time around, or provide any other information about the team.Many online commentators have speculated on the Donkey Kong Bananza development team since the game was first revealed, with many predicting that it is the same team responsible for Odyssey, given the apparent similarities between the two.Having now spent a few hours with the game, I can confirm that there is a lot of Odyssey DNA apparent in what I've tried of Donkey Kong Bananza so far. Structurally, the two games seem almost identical - with the same focus on free-form exploration and collectible hunting within open-ended levels.Many features, like the ability to buy outfits in shops using currency that is specific to each region, return, albeit augmented via new additions such as a skill tree and unique buffs associated with each item of clothing.Donkey Kong Bananza is set to launch on July 17, 2025, and will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. For an in-depth look at the game, be sure to read our new Donkey Kong Bananza preview.You might also like...I’ve clocked up more than 60 hours in Mario Kart World – here are my 3 top tips for getting first placeThe best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play in 2025I hosted an 8-player Mario Kart World tournament at my office – here’s everything I needed to make it work