Nintendo released the Switch 2 on June 5th, 2025, and just over a month later, the console is already being pushed to its limits – at least a little bit. Donkey Kong Bananza fell short of being a launch title for the console, but it’s close enough. It comes out on July 17th (the same day Cyberpunk 2077 comes to Mac) and is developed by much of the same team that made Super Mario Odyssey.

Spanish publication La Vanguardia recently interviewed game producer Kenta Motokura and game director Kazuya Takahashi to chat about DK Bananza. It came to light that the Switch 2 is already being pushed to its limits on a first-party title, with the director admitting that “performance may drop slightly” while enjoying some of the particularly destructive elements of the gameplay.

Donkey Kong Bananza pushes Switch 2’s hardware, but overall it’s smooth

There’s no doubt that Bananza is a great looking game. We can see that from the various screenshots and gameplay footage we’ve been treated to so far from Nintendo, ahead of reviews. The game is a Switch 2 exclusive and is confirmed to take full advantage of the higher resolution in handheld form – offering full 1080p 60 FPS and HDR support.

“There are several factors to consider. First, we intentionally used effects like hit-stop and slow motion to emphasize impacts. Second, because we use voxel technology, there are times when there are major changes and destruction in the environment. We’re aware that performance may drop slightly at these times. However, as you say, overall the game is smooth, and at points where large-scale changes occur, we prioritized fun and playability.”

Kazuya Takahashi, Donkey Kong Bananza director [translated]

Luckily the game should run smoothly for the most part, but frame drops may be noticeable. Prioritizing “fun and playability” is obviously the right thing to do, and we can likely trust the devs when they say the performance drop is ‘slight’. Even so, it does show that we’re getting to see what the Switch 2 is capable of. It’s also great to see games like Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Nintendo handheld, which goes to show that Nintendo’s implementation of DLSS is working a charm.

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Charlie Noon

Charlie is the Affiliate manager for PC Guide. He has a vast understanding of most PC hardware and consumer essentials, using his knowledge to provide the best products and the biggest deals.