The Kongversation: Donkey Kong Universe Discussion

Hyle and Dustin take a Stinky Ape Summer holiday to sunny Treasure Trove Cove! The iconic Banjo-Kazooie world has a rich accumulated history that goes far beyond the horizon of the classic 3D platformer. The Kongversation unearths golden nuggets of lore about the island buried across Rare's shared universe!

Mario Kart Tour is shutting down on September 30th. Hyle and David react to the news, taking stock of the loss of another DKU game. At least we didn't spend any real money on it, right? *checks bank statements* Oh, no.

Broadcast live on https://www.twitch.tv/dkvine on July 9th, 2026, Hyle and Dustin honor the 45th anniversary of the original Donkey Kong game! We discuss ho the series has rebuilt itself since the 40th anniversary, while examining how Donkey Kong Bananza has helped recontextualize the arcade roots with the Donkey Kong Country games. Then we ask what do the next 45 years look like for the franchise, sharing some bold predictions between now and 2071!

Hyle and Gibbon discuss the Super Pocket Rare Edition! Bundled with 14 games, it includes a new official build of Banjo-Kazooie with quite a few surprises for longtime fans. How does the classic 3D platformer even work with a D-Pad? Is it worth the purchase? And did Hyle accidentally wreck a beloved bit in Conker's Pocket Tales?

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.

It's the life and tides of Enguarde the swordfish! The Kongs' reliable underwater steed has spent decades experiencing coral quarrel, and Hyle and Dustin finally sum up his journey by serving as his Character Witness! It's all of his game appearances, all of his cameos, and all of the references made to him across the extended Donkey Kong Universe!

The Spotlight on Star Fox Assault continues! Hyle and Cameron discuss the first half of the game, as what starts as a minor coup attempt by an old villain quickly escalates into an extrasolar invasion by an assimilating swarm of insectoids!

What were the ReSultees of 2026's DKU ReDraftee? Hyle, Jeff, and Mitchell meet up to analyze their picks on episode 1410, then find out who the DK Vine's Patrons voted as having the winning teams! When it comes to the games of the DKU and its 3D worlds, which host is most in touch with the fandom?

Return to a time when the Star Fox series got regular games that were sequels to the one that came before! But what to make of the GameCube's Star Fox Assault, the 2005 follow-up to Star Fox Adventures? We look at the origins of Namco's contribution to the Star Fox mythos and how it took the series back to something a bit more traditional... while still pushing the gameplay forward and embracing Rare's characters and lore.

Finally! A fifth version of the Lylat Wars is coming to Nintendo Switch 2! Well, I guess it's the sixth if you count that LCD watch from Kellogg's brand cereals that you could get in the mail in 1993. However, nobody's going to need to eat a big bowl of cornflakes to repress their self-pleasuring inclinations when it comes to these character designs.

The DKU Draft returns for its third year! And are 3D platformers having a moment? They are. Looking to finally topple the Jeff Dynasty, Hyle and Mitchell hope that they'll have the right picks when the three teams draft the best lineup of DKU 3D platformer worlds! Then, the trio once again attempts to draft the most popular lineup of DKU games! All games are eligible to be drafted, including newcomers Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, and more!

Hyle and Jeff cast the upcoming Donkey Kong movie from Illumination and Nintendo! Which Hollywood celebrities and comedians can capably fill the shoes, neckties, prehensile tails, and golden belly armor of the Donkey Kong series' stable of characters?