Dixie Kong arrives with Switch 2 upgrades in a free update.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD just got a welcome surprise. Dixie Kong is joining the adventure in a free update, and Nintendo Switch 2 players can look forward to enhanced visuals, sharper HD graphics, and reduced loading times. Best of all, the update is available today.
Nintendo made the announcement earlier today, January 20, 2026, catching many Donkey Kong fans off guard.
With Dixie Kong now playable, players can help Donkey Kong reach new heights by using her signature hair-helicopter ability to gain extra lift or distance during tricky platforming sections.
Gameshare support is also being added to the title—a small but much-appreciated quality-of-life feature that makes jumping into the game with friends even easier.
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
