Nintendo has recently unveiled a refreshed design for Diddy Kong, following its earlier revamp of the iconic Donkey Kong character. Earlier this year, fans noticed noticeable changes to Donkey Kong's appearance in official artwork and early footage from Mario Kart World. Now, similar updates have been introduced to Diddy Kong, as seen in images from Nintendo's website and brand displays at Licensing Expo 2025 in Las Vegas.
According to Nintendo Life, the new depiction of Diddy Kong features a more cartoonish aesthetic, characterized by rounder eyes and a cheerier, friendlier grin. Attendees at the Licensing Expo were able to spot the updated designs of both Diddy and Donkey Kong, as shared by attendee Cptn_Alex on social media.
Image credit: Nintendo.
Image credit: Nintendo.
Nintendo has not officially commented on these changes, but they are widely believed to be inspired by the character redesigns seen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Even Princess Peach has undergone a subtle makeover, with her appearance on the box art of Princess Peach: Showtime! for the Switch resembling her cinematic counterpart.
Of course this post is blowing up! Here’s a closer look at the new render :)
via Nintendo booth @ Licensing Expo pic.twitter.com/QzxJOWs9gF
— CptnAlex (@Cptn_Alex) May 20, 2025
Donkey Kong is set to star in the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 title, Donkey Kong Bananza. While Diddy Kong hasn’t been officially confirmed for the game, the inclusion of other Kong family members like Cranky Kong and Nintendo's efforts to update Diddy's look suggest his involvement is highly probable. Additionally, the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel, titled Super Mario World, is expected to feature more appearances of Nintendo's beloved ape characters, redesigned as seen in the recent updates.
