Fans Think Mario Kart World Might Get A Big Donkey Kong DLC Any Day Now

It’s been six months since Mario Kart World launched alongside the Switch 2. There have been some notable patches during that time but no big content updates. Could the game’s first paid DLC be right around the corner? Here’s why some fans think so and why it will feature tie-ins to Donkey Kong Bananza.

Before we go on, here’s a spoiler warning for those who haven’t finished Donkey Kong Bananza yet.

So, Nintendo Today news app dataminers recently discovered an interesting entry for December 15 (via Gamesradar). It’s an animation featuring King K. Rool. He’s a familiar enough Nintendo character at this point, even making it into Smash Bros. Ultimate, but the post is also clearly a nod to Donkey Kong Bananza, in which the reptile serves as the surprise final boss. While King K. Rool has been in Smash Bros., he’s never been in a Mario Kart before.

What makes this theory extra convincing is that Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza already share credits for two voice actors: Yuu Hayashi (Void Kong) and Tsuguo Mogami (King K. Rool). Those two characters are obviously in Donkey Kong Bananza. They are not in Mario Kart World. Yet. Hmmm.

Adding fuel to the speculation is a lot of other circumstantial stuff, like the fact that The Game Awards, where Nintendo has often announced big DLCs in the past, is right around the corner, and the base version of Mario Kart World is surprisingly light on costumes and music for Donkey Kong. With Nintendo making such a big push behind the big ape—a big launch year exclusive for the Switch 2, a rumored movie spin-off, and a remaster of an old Wii game—it wouldn’t be shocking to see the first big Mario Kart World expansion be DK-themed.

Diddy Kong, for example, has been in and out of the series since Double Dash. He didn’t launch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but was later added in the Booster Pass Course DLCs. Funky Kong, too. I would expect them and more to get added eventually. Now, whether that’s this month or farther down the road is a different question. December totally makes sense for Mario Kart World DLC, but Nintendo doesn’t always do something just because it makes sense.

And if we read into every little Nintendo Today news app drop like this, well, fans would be expecting all sorts of wild announcements.