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Donkey Kong Country Returns HD - Release Time

Author:Kristen Update:Mar 16,2025

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After nearly 15 years since its Wii debut, the acclaimed platformer Donkey Kong Country Returns is finally making its way to the Nintendo Switch as Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. This is fantastic news for anyone who missed out on the original Wii or Wii U/3DS versions.

For $59.99, you get a visually enhanced remaster of the Wii classic, boasting improved graphics and incorporating the additional levels from the 2013 3DS release. And yes, cooperative play returns!

Planning to grab the digital version? Knowing the exact eShop release time will let you jump into the action immediately.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Release Time and Date

While Nintendo isn't typically forthcoming with precise digital release times, their support page reveals that most first-party titles, including Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, launch on the eShop at 9 PM PT on the evening before the official release date.

Therefore, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD should be playable on January 15th at 9 PM PT (for those in California). Here's the breakdown for other time zones:

  • January 15th at 10 PM MT (Denver)
  • January 15th at 11 PM CT (Chicago)
  • January 16th at 12 AM ET (New York)
  • January 16th at 5 AM GMT (London)
  • January 16th at 6 AM CET (Berlin)
  • January 16th at 1 PM CST (Beijing)
  • January 16th at 2 PM JST (Tokyo)
  • January 16th at 4 PM AEDT (Melbourne)

For fans craving some retro Donkey Kong action, remember that Donkey Kong Land 3 is now available on Nintendo Switch Online.