Donkey Kong Bananza physical version already for sale as copies of Nintendo Switch 2 game leak on eBay

Most gamers won't play Donkey Kong Bananza until its July 17th release date. However, an eBay seller managed to acquire 15 copies of the 3D platformer and has listed them on the marketplace. Fans are paying above MSRP for the Switch 2 game, with some sales closing at around $100. Multiple pictures of the packaging surfaced on the Switch 2 subreddit.

It's unclear how the merchant found copies of Nintendo's anticipated first-party release. The review embargo is reportedly July 16th, so journalists may already have access to the game. Still, with this quantity for sale, it's more likely that the source was a retail store that has already received stock.

One issue buyers face with the Switch 2 leak is transit times. If the game doesn't arrive before the Donkey Kong Bananza release date, paying inflated prices doesn't make much sense. Realizing this dilemma, the eBay seller promises 2-day shipping with rush processing.

Another concern is whether gamers can even boot the game before July 17th. Since the title ships on a conventional cartridge rather than a Game-Key Card, theoretically it should work. The back of the retail case warns about online connectivity requirements. Even so, the same message appears on the packaging of other Switch 2 games that function when offline. Gamers have played Nintendo titles early before, but the company's aggressive banning of consoles may cause hesitation.

When Donkey Kong Bananza becomes widely available, players can smash their way through a series of underground levels. Destructible and throwable objects should lead to more varied gameplay, as Donkey Kong and Pauline face off against VoidCo villains.

Some gamers have criticized Nintendo for a lack of first-party Switch 2 games to support the handheld. The latest Kong saga may tide players over until Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Kirby Air Riders arrive.