Nintendo has just fueled one of the biggest fan theories for Donkey Kong and Mario Kart enthusiasts. The company officially confirmed the secret character (whose name had been kept under wraps due to spoilers) from the finale of the new platformer Donkey Kong: Bananza. This announcement has sent speculation about a major Mario Kart World DLC soaring.

Nintendo’s Hidden Name: King K. Rool

As players who finished the thrilling end of Donkey Kong Bananza know, the adventure doesn’t end after defeating the main villain Void Kong. The legendary series antagonist King K. Rool returns as the final boss, delivering a huge surprise.

Since launch, Nintendo had avoided mentioning K. Rool’s presence in the game to keep this major spoiler secret.

Official Confirmation and Perfect Timing

• What Happened? Nintendo’s mobile app Nintendo Today was updated with a new Donkey Kong theme. Data miners discovered that the app will release an animation featuring King K. Rool on December 15, 2025.

• Why Does It Matter? This date marks the first official public confirmation of K. Rool’s appearance in Bananza.

Mario Kart World DLC Theory

What turns this simple app update into a major DLC hint for Nintendo fans is the timing and in-game evidence:

1. The Game Awards Connection: The release date for King K. Rool’s animation, December 15, is just a few days after The Game Awards 2025 (December 11). Nintendo has a history of announcing major DLC characters for games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at TGA.

2. Voice Actor Clues: Right after Donkey Kong Bananza launched, sharp-eyed players noticed that the voice actors for King K. Rool and Void Kong (Tsuguo Mogami and Yū Hayashi) were listed in the end credits of Mario Kart World. However, these characters were not part of the initial Mario Kart World roster.

This is seen as the strongest evidence that Nintendo plans to add K. Rool and Void Kong as DLC characters, but held them back at launch to avoid spoiling Bananza’s surprises.

Expected Donkey Kong DLC Content

If the theory is correct and the DLC is revealed at TGA, here’s what’s expected to arrive in Mario Kart World:

• New Racers: King K. Rool and Void Kong.

• Extra Costumes: Bananza-themed costumes for Donkey Kong and Pauline (the fact that DK and Pauline have fewer costumes than other characters in the game supports this theory).

• Bananza Track: A brand new Grand Prix course inspired by the world of Donkey Kong Bananza.