Nintendo reveals the origins of Donkey Kong Bananza, and Epic Games enters a new era of Fortnite crossovers

Nintendo reveals the unexpected origins of Donkey Kong Bananza

During the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Nintendo producer Kenta Motokura and programmer Tatsuya Kurihara shared the story behind one of the most anticipated titles of the year. Donkey Kong Bananza blends classic 3‑D platforming with open‑ended destruction, and its genesis is as surprising as it is entertaining.

The project started as an internal prototype where, instead of the iconic Donkey Kong, the lead character was a Goomba with giant fists. After finishing work on Super Mario Odyssey, Kurihara decided to reuse the game’s assets to see what it would feel like to "smash walls and fling debris". The first demo was built in just a few days, and its core mechanic revolved around environmental demolition.

"The Elephant‑to‑Bananza transformation, which enables the highest level of destruction, probably went a bit too far, but it's just massively fun and satisfying," Kurihara admitted during the panel. The developers emphasized that the key goal was to maintain a family‑friendly aesthetic while delivering a sense of unlimited freedom through destruction.

Why a Goomba? – behind‑the‑scenes tidbits

• Retro homage – the team wanted to pay tribute to Nintendo’s early titles where the Goomba was one of the most recognizable enemies.
• Physics testing – giant fists gave the engineers a quick way to validate the new physics engine.
• Easter egg – the final game will feature a "Goomba Fury" skin that references the original prototype.

Fortnite x Super Meat Boy – a new era of crossovers

Epic Games announced another exciting crossover in Fortnite, this time with the upcoming Super Meat Boy 3D. As part of an ambitious 100‑promotions‑per‑year program, Epic plans to release limited‑time skins, emotes, and items that are unlocked by purchasing partner games from the Epic Games Store.

Upcoming offers for the next quarter include:

• Resident Evil Requiem – exclusive Fortnite outfit unlocked with a purchase of the game.
• Crimson Desert – a themed armor set with a unique sound effect.
• Dumb Ways to Die – back bling and emote (promotion ended, listed as a successful example).
• Super Meat Boy 3D – "Meat Boy" skin and a special "Slice & Dice" emote.

Epic stresses that collaborations with indie studios like Team Meat not only boost visibility for those titles but also strengthen the multiplatform gaming ecosystem. Players gain fresh experiences inside Fortnite, while developers attract new audiences.

FBI investigates malware on Steam

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into fraudulent games distributed on Steam. At least seven titles have been identified as carriers of malicious software, including trojans and ransomware.

The suspicious titles are:

• BlockBlasters
• Chemia
• Dashverse
• Lampy
• Lunara
• PirateFi
• Tokenova

Players who downloaded any of these games between May 2024 and January 2026 are urged to contact their nearest FBI field office or report the incident via the official site fbi.gov. Experts emphasize the importance of regular system scans and only installing software from trusted sources.

Legendary game developers weigh in on artificial intelligence

In recent weeks, several industry icons have publicly debated the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on game development. Their statements have sparked heated discussions across forums and social media.

Jeff Kaplan – “a hot mess”

The former Blizzard Entertainment director said that current AI tools are "mostly a hot mess." Kaplan highlighted that while AI can speed up certain tasks, it cannot replace the human spirit and creativity. "Machines can generate textures, but they can't fully capture the emotions we pour into a game," he told Game Informer.

Garry Newman – a controversial metaphor

The creator of Garry's Mod went further, comparing over‑reliance on AI in coding to "watching too much pornography," which can "deprive programmers of creative thinking abilities." Although the comment drew criticism, Newman clarified that his goal was to highlight the risk of losing hands‑on problem‑solving skills.

Both developers agree that the future of AI in games will require a balanced approach—as a tool that augments, not replaces, human talent.

Punch the Monkey – a game with a message

The touching story of Punch, a macaque abandoned by his mother who finds comfort in an IKEA orangutan plush, has been adapted into the indie title Zoo Fighter. Players step into Punch’s shoes, fighting bullies and guiding his group toward an animal sanctuary rather than a conventional zoo.

Developers aim to raise awareness about the differences between traditional zoos and sanctuaries. With realistic animal behavior models and emotionally driven dialogue, players face moral choices that make the experience both entertaining and educational.