1421 - DK Challenge First Impressions

A Donkey Kong Bananza theme was added to Nintendo's Alarmo on June 9th, 2026. The Kongversation obviously needed to do an episode about it. This is that attempt.

19 seasons and a movie? Maybe! Hyle and Jeff talk about the "Sharma Drama" engulfing XBOX, including the departures of Craig Duncan and Louise O'Connor from the company. After reminiscing about the Duncan years of Rare, we move on to the recently-concluded Sea of Thieves: Season 19... and the Sea of Thieves MOVIE? Will it even happen, and what tired trope are we hoping they avoid?

Courtney returns to the Kongversation to discuss Donkey Kong 64's arrival on Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Classics! How does it play on the Switch and Switch 2, especially compared with how it performed on the Wii U? And how are we now feeling about the original 3D DK platformer in light of Donkey Kong Bananza?

It's DK Vine on DK Challenge! Hyle and Dustin discuss the time-limited Switch 2 event for Nintendo Switch Online members, swapping stories about the most difficult of the lot and asking if this counts as an actual Donkey Kong game. And if it does, where and how does it fit into the lore of the Donkey Kong Universe? (Yes, Hyle has a long-winded answer.)

Coming out of a surprisingly robust week of game reveals (and alarm clock updates) for the DKU, Hyle and Malik answer listener calls from the DK Vine Hotline at 1-202-630-VINE (8463)! Topics include hopes and fears for Super Yooka-Laylee Kart, DK Challenge, the new Jakks Pacific Donkey Kong figures, and more!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on June 9th, 2026, Hyle and Dustin discuss this year's June Nintendo Direct! It really IS a Stinky Ape Summer (and just a Stinky Summer for fans of most other franchises), what with the time-limited DK Challenge for Nintendo Switch Online members, the Super Mario Bros. collaboration with Bananza's Emerald Rush, and upcoming Donkey Kong figures from Jakks Pacific!

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on June 8th, 2026, Hyle and Cameron discuss the (official) reveal of Playtonic's Super Yooka-Laylee Kart. A kart racer from Playtonic has been anticipated since the studio's founding, but is the decidedly non-Diddy Kong Racing spiritual successor building up a Rage Meter in its fans?

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on June 7th, 2026, Hyle and Gibbon talk about XBOX! IN ALL CAPS! Specifically, the 2026 XBOX Showcase! But why? Why does DK Vine always do a Kongversation episode on this? We question the meaning of that, and the meaning behind life, as we try to appeal to Gen Alpha by celebrating 6-7 with a 67-minute installment of this busted-ass podcast that's been waiting for a new Banjo-Kazooie game since before we even began this 14 years ago.

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on June 4th, 2026, Hyle and Matt kick off DK Vine's Stinky Ape Summer with a discussion about the game announcement season and what could be in store for the DKU! That means getting into the new Playtonic game leak and some depressing chat about Xbox. But if you'd like to skip straight ahead to the bits where we cover Donkey Kong 64 on Nintendo Switch Online, DK's 45th anniversary, and some hopes for an upcoming Nintendo Direct, just look for the really long Matt scream at 1:18:42!

The Spotlight on Star Fox Assault concludes! Hyle and Cameron discuss the back half of the game, with the Lylat System under (the aforementioned) assault by the Aparoids. It's Dinosaur Planet decimated! Corneria City crushed! And several Star Fox characters irrevocably changed... forever! Until the next Star Fox 64 remake, that is.