News has emerged that Nintendo has updated their trademark for the Donkey Kong franchise. You might not find that all too surprising as that’s what companies do with their IP, however, the new trademark has updated language which applies specifically to Donkey Kong video games, stating that the trademark is for “downloadable programs for portable and electronic consoles.”
We have been waiting for what seems like forever for a new Donkey Kong game to appear. The last mainline game in the Donkey Kong series, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, released to critical acclaim on the Wii U back in 2014 and at the time we gave the game a rock solid 9/10. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was then re-released for the Switch in 2018 and since then we have been wanting a new game.
There have been numerous rumours since. The last being that Nintendo has a new 3D/2.5D game in the works which is being developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team. Nintendo has already confirmed that they are planning a new Donkey Kong expansion to Super Nintendo World in 2024. There’s also been a rumour that the next animated film collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination will be a Donkey Kong animated movie. We really have no idea what’s next for the big ape, but let’s hope Nintendo has something good up its sleeves for one of its biggest and most recognisable characters.