Mario Kart World Development Began in 2017 for Nintendo Switch

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Following years filled with speculation, the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 is set to arrive in just two weeks’ time. For dedicated Mario Kart enthusiasts, this moment has been particularly anticipated since the release of Mario Kart 8 back in 2014 for the Wii U. In a fresh twist for the series, Mario Kart World presents an expansive world where tracks smoothly connect without interruption.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about the upcoming game that’s set to release alongside the Switch 2 for $79.99. Interestingly enough, this game wasn’t just dreamed up last minute; its roots trace back to 2017, during the development phase of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! Producer Kosuke Yabuki revealed in an interview that even while they were perfecting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, they were already brainstorming ideas for the next installment. The prototyping began in March 2017, and by the end of the year, it had officially become a project. Can’t wait to see what they’ve been working on!

The team opted against increasing the game count and wrapping up their work (which would have been known as “Mario Kart 9”). Instead, Yabuki expressed that they wished to elevate the series. Consequently, they chose to forgo numbering this time around and instead use an entirely fresh title, “Mario Kart World”. This new name has been a part of the concept art since the initial stages of development.

In older versions of “Mario Kart”, once you completed a track, the next one would start. I imagined that with today’s technology, it should be feasible to transition smoothly between tracks and create a unified, expansive world. With this idea in mind, we endeavored to develop a unique kind of “Mario Kart”. That’s when all our problems started.

Due to the fact that Mario Kart 8 could accommodate up to 12 players, the developers aimed to expand that number to a maximum of 24, fitting for the game’s larger world. However, programming director Kenta Sato pointed out that achieving this on the Nintendo Switch was quite challenging.

While designing games for the Nintendo Switch platform, we faced challenges in fitting all our desired elements, which made us mindful of compromises we had to make. We contemplated various adjustments such as reducing graphics quality, lowering resolution, and even decreasing the frame rate to 30 fps at times. It was a challenging predicament for us.

Initially, we deferred making tough choices about what parts of the project to abandon, focusing instead on making progress. However, when we announced the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, we realized this extension would provide us with additional development time. The sudden opportunity to transfer it to the Nintendo Switch offered a wealth of possibilities for enhancements, which Sato described as a beacon of hope.

On June 5th, the world of Mario Kart will debut alongside the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. If you’re interested, you can secure both items together in a special bundle priced at $449.99. However, due to limited availability, it is important to note that this offer won’t continue beyond Fall this year.

Visit this location to discover more about the fresh lineup of courses, multiple updated drivers, and exciting power-ups; alternatively, click here for insights into innovative elements such as Rewind. Additionally, feel free to explore our dedicated section for the most current updates.

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2025-05-22 04:42