AHC/WI: Rareware kept the rights to Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong and his crew were always Nintendo property as per the deal between Rare and Nintendo. Donkey Kong himself will always be Nintendo property because he was in the first Jumpman/Mario game, in fact it was named Donkey Kong. He predates not only Peach, Luigi, and Bowser, but Donkey Kong the character predates Rareware the company.

In short, it's not going to happen.
 
Microsoft offered tons of cash for the Donkey Kong license in OTL.

Nintendo tuned down all offers.

DK is too important in Nintendo history. Plus, Mario made his first appearance in the arcade game, making the copyright ownership between the two companies over these games even more convoluted. It just couldn't happen.
 
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