A fresh rumor has surfaced suggesting that Retro Studios, the Texas-based Nintendo subsidiary best known for its work on the Metroid Prime series and the Donkey Kong Country franchise, may not return to 2D Donkey Kong titles after the release of Donkey Kong Bananza. The claim comes from KiwiTalkz, a content creator known for interviews with former and current Retro Studios employees. While KiwiTalkz does not have a substantial track record of accurate leaks, his ties to the studio through multiple interviews have lent some degree of credibility to his insights within certain fan communities.
According to KiwiTalkz, Retro Studios is expected to shift its focus back to the Metroid series following Metroid Prime 4, which is still in development after undergoing a widely publicized restart in 2019. The studio may also be planning to work on Metroid Prime 5 and reportedly a brand-new intellectual property afterward. This would mark a continued emphasis on action-adventure titles, a genre where Retro has established a strong reputation over the years.
This rumor arrives at a time when interest in Donkey Kong Bananza is particularly high. The upcoming game, releasing exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, is shaping up to be a technical showpiece for the hardware. It introduces a voxel-based destruction system and expanded environmental interactivity that pushes the Switch 2’s capabilities, making it one of the most ambitious projects associated with the Donkey Kong brand in recent years.
Retro Studios’ history with Nintendo began in 1998 when the studio was established as a collaboration between Nintendo and Iguana Entertainment founder Jeff Spangenberg. Though Retro initially worked on several projects for the GameCube, those were eventually canceled as the studio redirected its resources toward developing Metroid Prime, the first entry in the franchise handled by a non-Japanese studio. The game’s success led to a trilogy of sequels and cemented Retro as a key creative force within Nintendo’s Western development portfolio.
The studio later revived the Donkey Kong Country series with Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii and its sequel Tropical Freeze for the Wii U, both of which were well received by critics and players alike. These efforts helped introduce a new generation of fans to the franchise while showcasing Retro’s expertise in both level design and gameplay innovation.
Metroid Prime 4, originally announced at E3 2017, was initially developed by Bandai Namco Studios before Nintendo decided to restart the project under Retro Studios in 2019. Nintendo cited unsatisfactory progress as the reason for this decision. The move was met with a mixed response from fans but also signaled Nintendo’s confidence in Retro’s ability to deliver on its flagship titles. The delay and restart, however, also underscored the challenges associated with high-profile projects of this scale.
If KiwiTalkz’s latest claim holds true, Retro Studios may return to its core strength of developing immersive action-adventure games rather than continuing with the Donkey Kong series. Whether this shift will lead to the rumored Metroid Prime 5 or introduce players to an entirely new IP remains to be seen.
As with all rumors, it is advisable to treat this information with caution until official confirmation is provided by Nintendo or Retro Studios.
