
Ahead of the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for Switch next week, some players have supposedly already "got their hands on" physical copies of the game.
This was highlighted by 'Nintendeal' on social media, which also notes how pre-orders for the game have now sold out at select locations in the US. In the photos below, you can see the front and back of the game box:
Fortunately, if this does end in a "leak", there are no real spoilers or surprises in this case as this title is obviously based on the Wii (2010) and 3DS (2013) releases.
Nintendo's games releasing before the street date has happened multiple times throughout the Switch generation, with some other series like Paper Mario and Zelda also in similar situations.
The official release date for the physical and digital versions of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is 16th January 2025 - so later next week. Nintendo's NY Store has also announced a launch event for the game and there's still time to pre-order.
Will you be picking up Donkey Kong Country Returns HD? Have you ever got your hands on a big Nintendo game before the official launch date? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 34
Nintendo, the best secret keeper in the world.
These Switch 2 leaks are getting out of hand...
I saw a copy of this in the wild a few weeks ago actually. The only difference was the fact that the one I saw was only $20 and not $60
Do u think the person who spotted this made a grunt while covering their eyes before lowering their head in shame while the dkc1 bonus room fail jingle started playing
We've had three re releases of old ass DK games on switch and not a single new game released. I believe this is the first console generation of Nintendos where not a single new DK game was made for the current system. Would somebody please get the Ape outta retirement?
Oh man, I hope this 15 year old game with zero plot that I've beaten multiple times doesn't get spoiled for me.
Better watch out, folks. They've been uploading playthroughs of this game for almost fifteen years now.
Man, this 15 year old game is gonna get spoiled again lol
I think it was a huge missed opportunity to not get David Wise to provide a revised soundtrack for Returns HD. I'm not asking for a total replacement like what we saw with DKC3 on GBA, but it would've been a great selling point that wouldn't have required much on Nintendo or Forever's end
@Truegamer79 No new Mario Kart were made for Switch either.
All other Nintendo consoles including Wii U got a new MK...
@PikaPhantom Returns' OST is honestly fine as is? Nothing too remarkable, but all the rearrangements were nice and so were the few new tracks. Doesn't really need an overhaul.
@Toastmaster
True!
I don't think the next system will likely get a smash bros either. Besides how do you top smash ultimate or Mario kart 8 anyway? I don't see that happening.
@Truegamer79 And yet, Donkey Kong ‘94 is still not on the Game Boy NSO app. Maybe in 2025? 🤞
What are we even going to learn? That it contains the levels that we already played 15 years ago? Not the most exciting game to leak.
@Truegamer79 I mean GC didn't have one either, unless you count the Bongo spinoffs. DK hasn't had the most consistent of release schedules.
@Truegamer79 Mario Kart 8 can definitely be topped. Hell, even some of Tour's mechanics showed new ways that Mario Kart can be expanded on with improvements such as track variants (R, T, R/T, RMX tracks), an actual shop system, online competitions with rotating tracks, a score attack mode, there's new things they could do like open world and track builders. We definitely have not reached the peak of what Mario Kart can be.
Smash... Smash is more difficult to imagine where they could go from here and I could see it taking a break this gen (perhaps Ultimate gets the MK8D treatment and that's one of the IPs we see skip this gen). But Mario Kart still has tons of room to grow.
@Bolt_Strike
Well i kinda counted the jungle beat game since it was at the time a new DK platformer. Then wii got DKC returns, Wii U Tropical freeze but switch nothing but remakes/re releases.
@Truegamer79 You are right. Mario Kart 8 and 96 tracks. Hard make it better.
Smash Bros had the definitive edition on Wii U, and yet they made another one for Switch.
Switch 2 will probably get remasters of both with some random graphics upgrades.
@Toastmaster
And there was me thinking we would get a few more games from Nintendo pure in house AAA teams.
Since they don’t need to make separate games for a hand held console and that the Switch is 8 years old.
Don’t get me wrong had some amazing Nintendo own games on the switch but they been a bit lacklustre in producing this long generation of 8 years.
Also only one new Mario 3d platform game outside of the little bowser fury add on.
I hope their production rate in house improves with switch 2.
@Truegamer79 to be fair, I don’t think Nintendo cares if they can top Mario kart 8 or smash ultimate, there’s 0 chance they miss out on a new game for 2 of the 3 best selling switch games. Either way, they can definitely top ultimate considering how much that game skimped on the side content in favour of just focusing on characters and a fairly basic story mode. Just add some interesting side modes and new exciting characters and they’ll be fine even with character cuts. As for Mario kart they really just need an interesting gimmick like r/t tracks and something like the mission mode and they’re golden.
@Truegamer79 If I know of Nintendo well... Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Deluxe and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Ultimate. lol
@OldGamer999
It will still take 5+ years to make each AAA Game for Switch 2.
It's not uncommon to spend 5-8 years on a new game now.
Switch library wouldn't be as good as it is without 10's of games ported from Wii U. Wii U helped Switch library a lot.
Besides Wii U games, there have been many remakes of old games too.
In total Switch have relied mostly on Wii U ports and remakes, instead of new games.
Zelda BOTW were also a game made for Wii U, but were delayed for a long time so they could have it as a launch title for Switch.
They even removed the touch screen features on Wii U version, so it didn't get an advantage over Switch.
They will probably port a lot of older games to Switch 2 too as it's easy money.
I think a new Mario 3D game have been in development for Switch 2 for years already, but they probably also made a Switch version.
I think Switch 2 will have a 3D Mario at launch.
@Toastmaster
I used to think we will get a 3d mario at launch.
But have changed my mind to around October 25, if the switch launches say April 25.
This could be so original Switch owners don’t protest at not having a switch version as well.
I think Metroid 4 will be the release switch and switch 2 game.
Also going into Christmas with a 3d Mario switch 2 only will boost switch 2 sales and give them the perfect Christmas game as well.
See I have learnt to think like Nintendo now 🤣
Interesting it has a cancer and reproductive warning?
I’ve never seen that in a game before.
Pff. Definitely one to file under "big deal.." considering it's a 14 year old game most of us have already played.
@Lord That's just some California exclusive thing. Obviously nonsense. Handling a Switch game will most definitely not give you cancer LOL. I am Californian, born and raised in the Bay Area, but a lot of the stuff they have on the books now is absolutely absurd. It wasn't like that when I grew up there back in the 80s and 90s.
Unsurprising, but luckily it doesn't particularly matter since it's just a remaster.
@OldGamer999
Yeah. Maybe you are right. Nintendo isn't the same as before, so..
game + themed cleaning cloth £36.79 using code DONKEY20 at currys.co.uk free delivery
A shame for those that haven't played it but for those that have (like me) I'm sure we'll be ok.
@N00BiSH It's not bad, and I have a particular soft spot for Automatic Action, but it is the one game in the series he's never touched and they already used his return to Tropical Freeze as a selling point. Just think it would've been the most obvious thing they could've changed to better justify HD beyond finally getting 60fps with button controls and the 3DS stages. They could even have a soundtrack toggle.
@vio crazy? Never seen anything more ridiculous, how does a Donkey Kong game damage your reproductive ability. Once you buy the game you can’t have sex anymore?
For $60, it should be a collection of all of the Donkey Kong Country games, all with extra bells and whistles. I can't see this selling well. Unless it comes with a green see through Switch 2 with yellow joycons.
I saw one in the wild, it was in a Wii case and it is with my other Wii games.
No point getting this game
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