"Mario Kart 9 Character Redesigned After Super Mario Bros. Movie"

Nintendo has officially unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, and with it comes the much-anticipated Mario Kart 9. Fans were quick to spot a significant redesign of one character, seemingly inspired by The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The trailer showcased over a dozen characters, but it was Donkey Kong who caught everyone's attention with his new look.

For years, even decades, Donkey Kong's design has remained consistent across various games like Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced a fresh take on his appearance, and it appears Nintendo is now integrating this updated design into their latest games.

Only a brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 was shared, with Donkey Kong appearing in just a few scenes, and not particularly clearly. It will be some time before fans can fully compare the new design side by side with the old one, but the difference is already noticeable.

More details are expected to be revealed in April during the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. The console reveal trailer offered just a few hints about the Nintendo Switch 2, focusing primarily on its appearance. It confirmed that the hardware is mostly backwards compatible, the Joy-Cons feature a mysterious new button, and a theory about using the controller as a mouse seems to be accurate.

While the release window for the Nintendo Switch 2 is set for 2025, it's unlikely to hit the market before June at the earliest. This is due to numerous hands-on events scheduled worldwide, with registration opening soon.