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I'm no expert on hiring calls or which factions of EPD work on which games. All I know is the information I've heard from Hyle on the DK Vine forums and the Kongversation. It's anyone's guess at what EPD's cooking with the new DK game.
Well, that’s where applying knowledge about EPD’s structure can help out with speculation! Breaking down what every group is known or likely to be working on, the DK project being in production in Tokyo is really the only option left open:
Kyoto:
- Group 1: Currently MIA, as Group 2 appear to have taken up all of their usual projects. If any Kyoto group were to be reformed into an internal production group capable of handling DK it would have to be this one, but there is nothing tangible to go on for this line of speculation, and the timeline doesn’t match up with when MonkEPD would’ve entered production (their absence started in 2020).
- Group 2: Collaboration and assistance on the majority of externally developed first-party projects and series (Kirby, Fire Emblem, Pokemon, etc). Don’t have their own internal projects, so no DK.
- Group 3: Zelda group; obviously wrapping up Tears of the Kingdom and likely getting to work on DLC content. DK wouldn’t be here.
- Group 4: Casual projects (1-2-Switch, Labo, Ring Fit, Switch Sports, etc). Don’t think a new Donkey Kong would be handled under this group.
- Group 5: Animal Crossing / Splatoon group. While their projects are some of the few with DKC references (a DKC1 parody box in Splatoon 2 and 3, and a mention of Crocodile Isle in New Horizons) those two series in perpetuity are going to keep them too busy to touch DK.
- Group 6: Tanabe’s group; assistance with all the external projects he has a role in (WarioWare and Paper Mario from IntSys, Next Level’s games, Retro’s games). If they converted to internal production DK would fit in, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
- Group 7: Sakamoto’s group; hasn’t been credited on an internally developed project since Rhythm Heaven Megamix and Miitomo, only external collaborations (Samus Returns, Famicom Detective Club, Dread); their current status is a mystery, but it likely doesn’t involve DK.
- Group 9: Mario Kart group (also other projects over the years like Nintendogs and ARMS). Definitely not the group that would pick up another big property like DK.
- Group 10: Pikmin 4 is just four months away, and they have certainly been working away on the next 2D Mario since at least 2019 as well. Too busy for DK.
- Group 8: 3D Mario group; the only one here. It isn’t impossible that with them seemingly split on two projects (3D and 2D; Mario and possibly DK) a new production group has been established in Tokyo for the DK project, though.
I’m of the mind that EPD’s DK project isn’t pulling too strongly from what VV were working on, and doesn’t have to 3D either (at least fully 3D; who knows, maybe a Crash or Boost Sonic style hybrid is in the cards).
I'm curious as to if you all think well be seeing a General Direct in the summer or not. Either way I think we'll get a September Direct but if there were, say, a big game coming out at the end of the year (like DK) they would need to announce it a few months in advance. DK is historically announced at E3 as well, but Nintendo won't be attending this year. Not to say DK needs to be announced in the summer for it to exist, but I think if we don't get a summer Direct we won't be seeing DK until next year. That ominous empty second half of Nintnedos year is just begging to be occupied by DK, though! It's a tough call if you ask me
With nothing dated after Pikmin a Summer presentation of some kind is a guarantee; just doesn’t have to be in the typical June window if they feel it unnecessary.