Nintendo claims Donkey Kong Bananaza prioritizes gameplay over performance

In a recent interview with La Vanguardia, Donkey Kong Bananza Director Kazuya Takahashi addressed concerns regarding the game’s performance: “We are aware that in some moments with a lot of explosions, the performance may drop a little.”

They did, however, insist that the main focus of the game is delivering a fun and engaging experience. Donkey Kong Bananza's main selling point is large-scale destructible environments, though this level of destructability comes with performance trade-offs.

To mitigate a jittery experience, the developers have introduced hit stops and slow motion, which are incorporated to make moments feel more impactful. Takahashi further elaborated: “Some visual effects like slow motion are intentional to emphasize impacts.”

The game heavily relies on voxel-based technology to craft highly destructible environments. Takahashi admitted that “voxel-based destruction can cause performance dips during large-scale changes.” 

Voxel-based technology is demanding on hardware, especially on a handheld like the Nintendo Switch 2, which features a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 SoC that also supports the chip designer’s AI-sharpening technology stack.

Despite the performance hiccups, Takahashi emphasized that Nintendo is prioritizing gameplay over performance: “We prioritize gameplay satisfaction over perfect performance in those moments.”

Early player impressions and previews have confirmed this narrative. Donkey Kong Bananza generally runs smoothly on the Nintendo Switch 2, though the frame rate tends to drop during sequences involving explosions or environmental destruction.

Donkey Kong Bananza has been in development since 2017, shortly after the release of Super Mario Odyssey. The game was initially in development for the Original Switch, but after the Nintendo Switch 2 was confirmed, the Super Mario Odyssey Team shifted gears to voxel-based tech for the upcoming game.

Donkey Kong Bananza is set for release on July 17, 2025, and builds upon a sandbox-style level design, 3D platforming, and gameplay mechanics from Super Mario Odyssey.