So far, the Nintendo Switch has managed to successfully release a ton of ports from recent Nintendo consoles without supporting old versions of any software or hardware. Gamers have been onboard enough to repurchase games and build a new arsenal of (fairly expensive) controllers for the console without too much complaining. A new patent now suggests that yet another revitalization may be on the way... And this one would definitely require another special controller.

Fans of the Gamecube era likely remember the days of Donkey Konga that preceded the era of Rock Band. The Namco/Nintendo team up helped pave the way for home console rhythm games and thousands of gamers around the world likely still have the Donkey Konga drumset in a closet somewhere. A new patent filed by Nintendo suggests that the popular peripheral may soon be making a comeback.

The patent covers both Donkey Konga drums and keyboard use for the Nintendo Switch...

"On August 28, 2017, Nintendo Co., Ltd. filed in the US via the United States Patent and Trademark Office a patent application for an INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, EXTENDED INPUT SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD. This patent concerns extended input devices for use with Nintendo Switch. Examples are Donkey Konga drums and a keyboard. Inventor is Hitoshi Yamazaki who has seventeen other patents with Nintendo (some together with Shigeru Miyamoto). Below is abstract, selected excerpts and of course drawings."

The patent definitely will have gamers wondering if a new Donkey Konga sequel is on the way. If not, even a rerelease of the original (maybe with some tracks from the existing sequels) would still be plenty exciting for many gamers. The Switch community has proven that it doesn't mind rebuying old games, but it will be interesting to see if they will still shell out cash for a game that may be more expensive due to the peripheral.

Some consumer may be holding out hope that the original drumset will be supported with some kind of adapter, but that seems pretty unlikely considering what we've seen from the Switch so far. It doesn't hurt to hope, though!

There is currently no official release date for Donkey Konga drums on the Nintendo Switch.

Source: Resetera