Speculation Grows Around Upcoming Donkey Kong DLC for Mario Kart World

# Fans Speculate About a Major Donkey Kong DLC for _Mario Kart World_

Hints are surfacing that suggest characters from _Donkey Kong Bananza_ could soon be making their way into _Mario Kart World_.

It’s been half a year since _Mario Kart World_ debuted alongside the Switch 2, and while there have been some updates, fans are eagerly awaiting the first major content drop. Could the first paid DLC be just around the corner? Here’s what has fans buzzing, particularly regarding potential tie-ins with _Donkey Kong Bananza_.

Before diving in, a quick spoiler alert for those who haven’t completed _Donkey Kong Bananza_ yet.

Recently, dataminers uncovered an intriguing entry for December 15, featuring an animation of King K. Rool. This character is well-known in the Nintendo universe, even appearing in _Smash Bros. Ultimate_, but he has yet to race in a _Mario Kart_ title. His role as the surprise final boss in _Donkey Kong Bananza_ adds weight to the speculation.

What makes this theory even more compelling is that _Mario Kart World_ and _Donkey Kong Bananza_ share two voice actors: Yuu Hayashi (Void Kong) and Tsuguo Mogami (King K. Rool). While these characters are prominent in _Donkey Kong Bananza_, they have yet to appear in _Mario Kart World_.

Adding to the excitement is the timing of The Game Awards, an event where Nintendo has historically announced significant DLC. Additionally, the base game of _Mario Kart World_ feels a bit sparse when it comes to costumes and music related to Donkey Kong. Given Nintendo’s recent push for the character—highlighted by a major launch year exclusive for the Switch 2 and a rumored movie spin-off—it wouldn’t be surprising to see a DK-themed expansion as the first major DLC for _Mario Kart World_.

Characters like Diddy Kong have been part of the series since _Double Dash_, and while he didn’t launch with _Mario Kart 8 Deluxe_, he was added later through DLC. Funky Kong has also made appearances in the past. It’s reasonable to expect that they, along with others, could eventually join the roster. Whether that happens this month or later remains uncertain. December seems like a fitting time for a DLC drop, but Nintendo doesn’t always follow the expected path.

If fans start reading too much into every datamine or teaser, they might end up anticipating all sorts of wild announcements.