Nintendo surprises Switch 2 fans with Donkey Kong Bananza DK Island DLC in Nintendo Direct Showcase

Nintendo has surprised fans in the latest Nintendo Direct, which took place on September 12, 2025, with a new paid DLC for Donkey Kong Bananza, titled DK Island & Emerald Rush, which is now available on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 owners for just $19.99. 

The new DLC brings players back to the iconic DK Island, the lush jungle home from the original Donkey Kong Country game, allowing players to barrel around with Donkey Kong and Pauline, along with a few familiar faces from the series. 

However, players can access the DLC after completing the base game’s storyline, where Void Kong gives players a position in Void Company to collect as much Emerald ore as possible in the new Emerald Rush mode.

Emerald Rush introduces a new roguelike challenge taking place on both DK Island and in layers from the base game, where players go on timed runs to collect emeralds, fossils to get helpful skills, and smash Banandium Gems to power up Donkey Kong with different skills.

Collecting a certain amount of gems in this new mode allows players to unlock new outfits for characters, collectible statues that can be displayed on DK Island, and more, going on multiple runs to unlock the entire roster of collectibles and skins.

Complementing the launch of Donkey Kong Bananza’s new DLC, Nintendo is also offering a free demo of the base game, which has already arrived on the Nintendo eShop.

Donkey Kong Bananza, developed by the members of the Super Mario Odyssey team,  was released back in July and has been receiving universal praise from fans and critics alike.

The game’s innovative 3D platforming, with an arsenal of powerful abilities and technical movesets to master, the incredibly malleable and destructible voxel-based environment have created a game that proves itself worthy as a Nintendo Switch 2 first-party masterpiece.

Furthermore, Nintendo’s longest Direct Showcase, paying tribute to Super Mario Bros.' 40th Anniversary, was jam-packed with tons of first-party reveals such as Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 remasters, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which have further fueled fan fervor, as Nintendo Switch 2’s game library will grow substantially by the middle of 2026.