A couple of months ago, rumors started swirling that Nintendo has a brand new Donkey Kong game in development for Switch, reportedly on the way from the same team that made the critically-acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey. Some had expected to see the new Donkey Kong game at E3 2021, but the E3 Nintendo Direct came and went with no mention of it at all. Now one of the leakers that first mentioned the new Donkey Kong Switch game has offered some more insight into what exactly it may entail.

Zippo, a leaker who accurately leaked various Nintendo announcements going into the company's E3 2021 event, recently made a new blog post where they discussed the rumored Donkey Kong game. They said that the new Donkey Kong Switch game has apparently been in development for over three years now, and that they're surprised it wasn't shown at Nintendo's E3 2021 event. However, they added that Nintendo is planning on this new Donkey Kong game to help grow the character's brand.

RELATED: Diddy Kong Render on Japanese Nintendo Website Has Been Updated

This effort will apparently include a Donkey Kong animation of some kind, though Zippo is unsure if this will be in the form of a movie or a TV show. A Super Mario animated movie is in production at Despicable Me studio Illumination, so it's always possible that Nintendo has decided to adapt its other franchises as well. In the meantime, this new focus on the Donkey Kong IP is also said to include a theme park expansion (presumably at Universal Studios) as well as merchandise.

Previous rumors about the new Donkey Kong game claim that it will be a 2.5D side-scroller, in a similar vein as the Donkey Kong Country Returns games that were developed by Retro Studios. There were some rumors that claimed the new Donkey Kong would be 3D, but more reliable sources have pushed back against that notion. Whatever the case may be, if the game truly has been in development for over three years, fans should find out more information sooner rather than later.

Then again, it seems likely that Donkey Kong will be one of the Nintendo Switch games released in 2022. After all, Nintendo already pulled the curtain back on the rest of its plans for 2021, with its big fall games consisting of Metroid Dread in October and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in November. The second half of 2021 is too busy to throw a new Donkey Kong game into the mix as well, and since Nintendo will likely want fans focused on this year's offerings, the Donkey Kong reveal may have to wait until next year.

donkey kong country tropical freeze diddy kong cranky kong dixie kong

All of this is just speculation at this time, and fans should take Zippo's leaks with a grain of salt. For now, Donkey Kong fans will have to standby for more official information.

Donkey Kong is rumored to be in development for the Nintendo Switch.

MORE: All of The Nintendo Switch Games from the Zippo Leak

Source: Zippo Speaks