Are We on the Verge of a Donkey Kong Renaissance?

[@clonecaptainroger7291]

just wanted to comment and tell you that we in the dk community appreciate you justin!

[@TheJustintendo]

Thank you so much for this, wow😭🙌🏻

[@DonkeyKongJS]

As the world's biggest dk fan, I am SUPREMELY excited to see the big things in store for the jungle King's future. I have waited years and years for this and we are finally here.

[@damightybenstein]

It makes me feel really old to realize that Donkey Kong Country Returns is now older than Donkey Kong Country 3 was when DKCR was first released on the Wii.

[@TheJustintendo]

😰😰

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

Imagine DKC3 costing 50 bucks in the Wii Shop back then lmao

[@pinkfoxboi1331]

Took me yrs b4 I could like dk return's cuz it felt atm so beneath what was previously done in games.

[@kalimnet5736]

I've given up copium... Ok, one last hit

[@TheJustintendo]

😭

[@Ty-douken]

Based on circumstantial evidence & a few rumors I've heard I suspect the Switch launches & gets a new Donkey Kong Country game made by Retro Studios within its first year & a half. Metroid Prime 4 was originally developed by another studio who's name escapes me & was rescued then rebooted by Retro Studios after about 3-4 years. From what I've heard & what would make sense is that they were making a Donkey Kong Country game before taking on Metroid Prime 4 & the game has actually been completed for a while now, but has been put on the shelf for a later date presumably so it can either launch or be cross generation for the Switch 2. I might be talking out of my butt here, however this would all make sense. I've also heard it's a 3D take on the Country series which has be intrigued if a bit worried.

[@maverickhuntermeta4954]

No matter how it looks like that Donkey Kong is making a comeback, we may be close to that once Retro Studios finishes up Metroid Prime 4 Beyond.

[@TheJustintendo]

Agreed!

[@Sam_T2000]

we needed a third DKC Returns game (with the return of Kremlings and K. Rool) in 2018-20-ish… and a HD trilogy collection a few years after that… and now we could be getting the first game in a semi-open world 3D _Donkey Kong_ platformer… 🍌

[@TheJustintendo]

I NEED IT!!

[@JustJulyo]

The 2nd half of the decade will be dedicated to DK

[@reversalmushroom]

I hope if they make a 3rd Returns game that K. Rool and the Kremlings come back. It's been so long, I feel like it's finally a good time again. It feels right. I also do wish they would make a 2nd 3D game. All the other game series transitioned into 3D because it was the next step, and that's what DK64 felt like for Donkey Kong, and I wish they had continued that direction.

[@cameronfowler3381]

If Switch 2 launches with a boss Donkey Kong game, that’d be a start

[@TheJustintendo]

That would make all my dreams come true

[@lasercraft32]

"In the darkest of times, hope is something you give yourself"

[@TheJustintendo]

🙌🏻

[@HieiDaHellSpawn94]

If Nintendo didn't buy Rare Ware we probably would've gotten more Dokney Kong games today and we would've had Donkey racing now

[@Jack-g6d7b]

Open world DK please Nintendo!

[@TheJustintendo]

YESS

[@N1kk1_N00dl3s]

FIVE DAYS UNTIL RETURNS HD!!!

[@TheJustintendo]

YESSSS!!!!

[@JeysArcade]

I really hope this is leading to something big for Donkey Kong! I sorta think a Donkey Kong movie is coming sooner then we think. If it's not the next movie it's the one after that. I Also really want DKC 6. It's been a long time since tropical freeze. Same situation as MK8. Yet another Great video my friend!

[@TheJustintendo]

Agreed, thank you my man! 🙌🏻

[@gungaloscrungalo8925]

Man I hope so, but then I think of the Switch's whole lifespan and the "NeW DOnKey KOnG GaMe cOnFIRmeD!?!?!" leaks that seemed to happen every other month.

[@mandalorianhunter1]

Let's hope we get a new game Let's hope the DK movie uses music from the game instead of overused pop music

[@TheJustintendo]

I completely agree

[@general_pigface7203]

Before Returns, there was a good chunk of time when Donkey Kong was essentially dead. Even if a new game hasn't come out in a while, Donkey Kong as a brand is still going strong. Compare that to something like F-Zero, where fans haven't seen anything in decades. Luckily we're almost guaranteed to get Donkey Kong Country 6 eventually, even if we have to wait for Retro Studios to finish Prime 4. Personally I would rather wait it out---if a different company developed it, it's not guaranteed to have the same quality as Retro's work.

[@general_pigface7203]

In my dream scenario, Retro Studios would finish the "new trilogy" with a bombastic finale by bringing back K. Rool and the Kremlings. That would be legendary

[@TheJustintendo]

That's my ideal scenario too!

[@carnage0685]

???? f-zero 99 but ok

[@general_pigface7203]

@@carnage0685 Oh yeah I forgot about that lmao. The point still stands though to some extent---for many people the last real F-Zero game was F-Zero GX

[@shadowsquid1351]

I just discovered your channel & I'm a huge DK fan since the SNES days so I'm so happy I got recommended this video, I'm gonna binge watch all your DK videos 😁 On the video subject I think Switch 2 will be the time for new DK games, The Switch era got lots of older DK games; DK:TF, DK:R, Mario Vs Donkey Kong, also Mario +Rabbids dlc, DK in the movie & I'm not gonna forget the DK part of Nintendo Park in Japan. So yea the future looks great for DK, as long as we get more 2D DKC from Retro studios with David Wise's music & get a new 3D DK game from one Nintendo's internal teams I'll be happy, any other spin offs are also welcome 🙏🏼

[@TheJustintendo]

Thank you so much!!! :)

[@TheBeird]

Donkey Kong Renaissance would be a good name for a new game actually 🤔

[@TheJustintendo]

You know you're not wrong😂

[@Joee1257]

A new post from this channel , I see it I click. Monkey see/Monkey do 🦍 🐒 🎈 🍌 🐊 🦎 🏴‍☠️ They gotta do a true comeback on DKC ….. including K. Rool being main antagonist

[@eduuu1992]

The world needs to know your opinion about the Donkey Kong Country cartoon of the 90s.

[@TheJustintendo]

😎😎

[@BirdieSenpai]

Donkey Kong 3 to DKC1: 11 Years Donkey Kong 3 to DKC2: 12 Years Donkey Kong 3 to DKC3: 13 years Donkey Kong 3 to DK64: 16 Years DKC1 to DKCR: 16 Years DKC2 to DKCR: 15 Years DKC3 to DKCR: 14 Years DK64 to DKCR: 11 Years DKCR to Now: 14 Years DKTF to Now: 11 Years It's time. It's past time.

[@TheJustintendo]

Agreed🙏🏻

[@BlackFlash09]

I hope Donkey Kong Jr. is brought back officially one day. Personally, I would go with a Fountain of Youth angle to explain why he's younger than his son, the current Donkey Kong.

[@ryanwinter8813]

You would have to not be paying attention to think something huge isn't cooking for the Donkey Kong franchise. This video doesn't even cover all of the signs ( though it does get the most important ones ), but I think the uncertainty of what form this new project will take is what's worrisome for fans. I have to admit, the rumor of Nintendo making the games in house is worrisome to me. I'm sure the gameplay will be great but if gameplay was all I cared about, I wouldn't have an emotional connection to any of these characters. I just hope we don't see the series further distance itself from the Rare era of games, or worse, try to synergize more with Mario and tie more into the arcade series. Mario vs Donkey Kong should be the series for that, and DK can guest in Mario games, but I would not want to see ? blocks and warp pipes or Koopas in DK.

[@emericfiguet175]

Dude, you perfectly summarize my concerns for the next game if it's made by a internal Nintendo studio I worry he will be tied to Mario in a attempt to bring him back to his 'origin' and lose his universe.

[@PogueSquadron]

Unless Nintendo gets another developer to work on DKC, I don’t think we’ll be seeing a new DKC game any time soon.

[@SantaFeSuperChief1]

Nintendo has never worked on DKC, it's always been other devs

[@PogueSquadron]

@ Sorry- I’m saying I don’t think Retro will have any DKC games coming any time soon. To rephrase: “unless Nintendo gets another developer besides Retro to work on DKC, I don’t think we’ll be seeing a new game any time soon.”

[@Roddan96]

I am coping hard too. Just glad we're getting some kind of game. I'd cry is DK got treated like Star Fox.

[@TheJustintendo]

Exactly, same here

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

Or even Wario Land

[@AL_Talks]

It's an exciting time to get (back?) into the fandom I've learned as a Pikmin fan, a Metroid fan and a Paper Mario RPG fan to just take what I can get. I don't have Copium for Donkey Kong Country (I have no pre-ordained ideas, demands or expectations) I have Hopium (I just hope for a DKC future, someday) I admire your spirit, don't ever lose your joy for Donkey Kong

[@TheJustintendo]

Exactly, thank you man

[@bling391]

We're all gonna make it brahs!

[@TheJustintendo]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@kasquez]

Well, I hope we are. DK has been on nintendo jail more than enough time. And if nintendo doesn't want to give us a new Donkey Kong Country, I sure hope someone else does (I don't mind if it is a fan game, as long as the quality is in there)

[@crono_8398]

Im picking up dk returns hd just to support dk. Im also glad to see this game finally ported. I thought it was just getting left on the wii w motion control gimmicks. Trop freeze is great and both shouldve been on switch for years now. 🤷‍♂️

[@TheJustintendo]

I completely agree

[@jarerarebear1765]

I want so badly to be optimistic but the doubts keep creeping in. It still feels like an uphill battle. We have had many wins though, New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey being filled with DKC references, both Returns and Tropical Freeze ported to Switch with Tropical Freeze selling 3x what it sold on Wii U, the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC for Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle, King K. Rool and Banjo-Kazooie in Smash, and of course the theme parks in Osaka, Japan and Orlando, Florida. There's reason to be hopeful, but Nintendo could absolutely still drop the ball.

[@TheJustintendo]

Not wrong!!

[@jonmccown2323]

I don't mind Wii motion. Just shake to roll. Jump and all is button control. 3ds looks great in 3d. It has depth. On my New 3ds it runs smooth. 60 fps I believe. It's a great game regardless of system.

[@TheJustintendo]

To each their own, I can't stand motion controls.

[@ChristopherGrisolia]

I really hope so, I would love the next DKC game to bring back K.Rool and the Kremling’s as well as DK 64 finally getting a long over due remake

[@TheJustintendo]

I agree wholeheartedly

[@MammerXJammers]

We need a new monkie game DAMN IT

[@TheJustintendo]

YES WE DO

[@zanok7796]

right now I'm focusing to the NSO service, I hope that all DK games that are missing return (DK64, Diddy Kong Racing, DK KIng of Swing, DK '94 and, I hope, the GBA DKC trilogy)

[@wootmasterzorsx]

I am very hopeful for the future of DK. I remember hearing, in discussions in videos I watched in the past, people mentioning Nintendo wanting to bring DK in house and wanting to revitalize the DK brand. And then there’s all the stuff they’ve been doing with DK lately, when he’d been a tad bit underused after Tropical Freeze on Switch. And recent rumors from a leaker that the DK game that was rumored to be from Nintendo EPD is still a thing and was moved to Switch 2, it makes me hopeful all the more. But even if that rumor doesn’t come to pass, I’m confident DK will get a new game on Switch 2. And yeah, it’s been an 11 year gap, but it’s not the first time there was a gap of that exact length of time for mainline DK entries. Sure, there were plenty of spin offs between DK64 and Returns, but I care about the big, exciting platformer games, and I’m feeling good about getting a new DK sometime on Switch 2. I’m not confident in early on, but I am confident it’ll happen eventually.

[@TheJustintendo]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@BrianGeller]

To be honest as much as I want a new DK Country game, I really want a remake or remaster of DK 64, how would you feel about a DK 64 remake?

[@TheJustintendo]

I would LOVE it

[@ChristopherGrisolia]

Nothing would make me happier

[@thearguenaut3187]

I can see the stampers miss them some donkey kong country look up kroko bongo.

[@DreadclawDragodon]

Metroid is back and now DK returning, perfect timeline

[@pieisgood235]

personally I was hoping we were gonna get something DK related in 2024 for the 30th Anniversary of DKC part of me wants to believe there's something DK related in store for the launch of the next Switch but since it got "delayed" a year that's why we didn't get any DK in 2024 it actually really bums me out that Nintendo didn't even acknowledge the 30th Anniversary, not even when they put out the DKL trilogy on NSO im fairly certain there's a DK movie in the works with Seth Rogan back to voice, im hoping we hear something about that in 2025, between that and the DK addition to the Universal theme park i was really hoping they'd have fun with the 30th Anniversary 😭 still, my fan boy pipe dream is that we get a new DKC at launch with the next Switch, and that K. Rool is back, and that it's called DKC: Kremling Karnage or something, i would absolutely piss myself. fuck it, go all out, make it the Year of K. Rool to signal his return, after all, they did the Year of Luigi in 2013 for no apparent reason other than the 35th Anniversary of Luigi, make it 31 years of K. Rool, why not 😜

[@Rookie_Mode2023]

I hope so. All I can do is hope.

[@TheJustintendo]

Copium and hopium

[@shawncarlson2508]

an open world DK game would be pretty cool 🎉

[@TheJustintendo]

That's the dream;

[@Papi_Keep_Playin]

I second this! I would love to see an open world DKC game with various quests and objectives to get rewards.

[@maverickhuntermeta4954]

Too much of a tall order.

[@BrendanB-j4c]

I really hope so but right now it feels kinda hopeless.

[@TheJustintendo]

You never know!

[@RetroBusker]

Donkey kong playable in 2 & 3 wod be cool with added bonuses... A Donkey Kong Mania esk game wod be beautiful.. dk4 fan game needs fleshing out with Tee Lopes on the soundtrack 😮

[@TheJustintendo]

Yes omg agreed!

[@tommycwills]

I’ve been really enjoying your Donkey Kong fandom 😃I think the 5 DKC games are my favorite 2D platformers ever and I am really excited to revisit what should be the best version of DKCR! Keep up the cope is all we can do. If it happened for Metroid and Pikmin then it can happen for DK! Signed, A fan of DK 🙁, Mega Man 😢, and Star Fox 😭

[@TheJustintendo]

You're exactly right! And thank you!! :) Keep on coping😭😂

[@Attard73]

Gat Damb I hope so

[@Packers4Evar12]

I'm willing to bet Metroid Prime 4 will be a Switch 2 launch game. In an ideal world there would be a DKC game on launch as well, but I'm not getting my hopes up. Maybe when Retro is done with Metroid, *sigh

[@shawncarlson2508]

😮DK RPG😮

[@sithlordmikeyp]

What's the Gameboy Color Trilogy? @12:00 I onlyknow of the first game for GBC, the Land series for GB, and remakes of the DKC trilogy for GBA.

[@TheJustintendo]

So I guess I misspoke a bit, there was a Donkey Kong Country port for the GBC, but not DKC2, and DKC3 was only released in Japan

[@sithlordmikeyp]

@@TheJustintendo DKC3 didn't have a GBC port- you're thinking the deluxe version of DKL3 that was Japan exclusive.

[@MagillanicaLouM]

I mean like... Obviously. But its still just head scratching why they're taking so long on the video game front. I mean, yeah Prime 4 has Retro studios' hands tied, I'm still just shocked Nintendo hasn't been able to get an in house team or even just get another group to work on anything new all this time. But still remasters and remakes are IP activity to the folks that own it plus all the merch and the theme park. DK as a brand has been pretty healthy, just not the part us nerds care about most lol.

[@themanwithsauce]

I think we're due for another platformer on the Switch 2 or whatever, but I don't think we're getting another trilogy on a console ever again. I think just the realities of game development make that next to impossible. That said, I'm amazed that we had the 30th anniversary of the original DKC yet we didn't get a commemorative cartridge or anything of the SNES trilogy and maybe including a few other DK games like the climber games or 64. Honestly......I'd like to see them at least try and revisit a DK 3D platformer again. DK64 had a lot of good ideas and I know with Mario retaining the more "classic" platformer adventure niche and Zelda bringing the wholly open world/crafting to the table, I could see DK being a franchise to bring something like a multiple characters/animal buddies style of puzzle/adventure/collectathon game where you're using the kongs and animal buddies to explore a land and solve progression puzzles.

[@TheJustintendo]

I'd love that man, like a more polished and refined DK64

[@shawncarlson2508]

I like the pun😅

[@TheJustintendo]

Haha thanks!

[@nuff496]

New game or not...We do know that nintendo is putting it back on the map more as of late..

[@TheJustintendo]

Very true

[@Kaioshin9000]

I started off with the DKC games on SNES not gona lie jumping from that to tropical freeze was a bit overwhelming I didn’t really like the design of the game felt way to cartoony to me I miss the realistic vibes. I did enjoy the music very much.

[@LathanFitzpatrick-vx5zp]

I don't wanna be annoying, but do you take video recommendations? If so, you should make a "What if I were to make the new Donkey Kong Country" or "Making a new Kong".

[@TheJustintendo]

What a genuinely good idea, and I'm always open to suggestions!!!

[@OmegaFox09]

I wouldn’t mind a DKC6 or DK64-esque follow up. But PERSONALLY, I think it might be too late for a 2025 release NEW game. Now if a new console comes out on 2028, then it would make more sense for a new release as it is the year of the monkey. But even THAT’S a far stretch 😅 I’d want DKC6 to actually have time to cook instead of it being rushed.

[@Sam_T2000]

whatever the future of Donkey Kong is, I just hope they stick with the _DK Country_ version of DK, and not the gross Seth Rogen movie version 😑

[@ODUBlue]

This was exactly the kind of video I was hoping for, well done 🫡

[@TheJustintendo]

Thank you man, I appreciate your continued support 🙏🏻

[@tobiasburpees]

With Nintendo investing in the new Donkey Kong World at Universal Studios, it leads me to believe we’ll be seeing more of DK. Doesn’t really make sense why they would do that for a series they had no plans for

[@TheJustintendo]

Precisely

[@Azureblue25]

Plus with Universal Studios having a section dedicated to Donkey Kong, leads me to believe that we will be getting an announcement for the Donkey Kong Country movie at some point, after all think about it, Universal would only have a brand in their theme parks if it has a movie or is going to have a movie associated with it, it’s even been heavily rumored that we’re getting a Legend of Zelda section in the future at Universal Studios and we already got the announcement that we’re getting a live action/motion capture (so it won’t be completely live action) Legend of Zelda movie by Nintendo & Sony at some point before 2030, imagine if there are plans to release the Donkey Kong Country movie in 2028, it would line up with year of the monkey, when the Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 releases in 2026 I imagine Donkey Kong will very likely have little to no role in the movie, especially with the amount of different characters that will likely get the opportunity to be a highlight of the 2nd Mario movie like Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, Rosalina, Daisy, Bowser Jr. & Koopalings etc., and so we’d have to potentially wait 2 years to see what Donkey Kong was up to during the events of the 2nd Mario movie, and that’s the perfect segway leading up to the Donkey Kong movie, I also really hope King K. Rool is going to be the villain of the movie, although given that the 1st Mario movie went through the effort to include less popular Kongs like Chunky Kong & given K. Rool’s resurging popularity thanks to Smash Bros. Ultimate, gives me hope that K. Rool will appear in the movie even though the Tiki Tongs are shown somewhere in the Donkey Kong section at Universal Studios but nothing involving K. Rool, it’s also worth noting that Universal themselves wanted to add K. Rool to the Donkey Kong section in some capacity but Nintendo said no for some reason.