1324 - Rare Layoffs and the End of Everwild

The Kongversation discusses the July 2025 layoffs across Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios, which also impacted Rare, resulting in the cancellation of Everwild and the departure of several longtime creative talents at the studio.

The Kongversation answers Donkey Kong Bananza-based listener questions, theories, and concerns one more time before the game's release!

Is the Donkey Kong fandom in BRAMBLE SHAMBLES? The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct has kicked up a regular Zinger's nest about Donkey Kong lore. ''Nintendo doesn't worry about Donkey Kong lore, and neither should you.'' Oh, is that so? Courtney returns to the show to defend the notion of caring about a fictional universe, while also helping Hyle push aside some of the bad-faith readings about what's going on with DK's upcoming game!

Donkey Kong Land, Rare's sophomore entry in the DK Isles, and the second game in the Donkey Kong Country lineage, turns 30! Hyle and Malik look back to June 1995 and discuss how Donkey Kong Land helped shape modern Donkey Kong fandom... and its parallels with the current Donkey Kong Bananza Hype Cycle!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine the day of the Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, Hyle and Dustin try their best to process a rarity in their line of work: 16 minutes of pure, unfiltered Donkey Kong news. Who, what, or when is the young Pauline? What's that about Donkey Kong's buttocks? Expresso's shoes WHERE? Diddy and Dixie Kong finally get Donkey Kong Racing off the ground... under the ground? All this and Hyle names the Kong he NEVER wants stuck in his teeth on a jam-packed episode!

Mario Kart World kicks off a new era for both Nintendo and the DKU, but does it also kick ass? Hyle and Dustin go on a rambling Free Roam discussion about the big launch title, with a special emphasis (as always) on Donkey Kong!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on June 12, 2025, Adam joins Hyle to discuss the just-released demo of Playtonic's Yooka-Replaylee... and for an in-depth breakdown of the recent controversies surrounding the studio.

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine the day of the June 2025 Xbox Showcase, Hyle and Gibbon make the best out of a fairly uneventful showing for Rare and DKU fans! Sea of Thieves was there just as we predicted, Everwild was not, and some harsh scolding is directed towards those deliberately riling up Banjo-Kazooie fans. But hey, how about that Rare 40th anniversary logo? A time to laugh, a time to weep. To everything, turn, turn, turn!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine the morning of the Switch 2's launch, Hyle and Matt kick off a new era with a leisurely chat about what the video game announcement season (formerly known as E3) means to them before discussing the Stinky Ape Summer ahead. Nintendo Directs! Xbox Showcases! And at the center of it all: Donkey Kong Bananza!

DUNK DUNK! The new sci-fi and horror-themed basketball game for Steam and Switch is an over-the-top cartoon JAM featuring some beloved indie characters, including a few near and dear to the DKU. Hyle and Jeff give their initial thoughts and also share their joint experiences playing the madcap monster mash!