Mario Kart World: Originally Planned for Switch 1

The producer behind Mario Kart World recently disclosed that the game was initially designed for the Nintendo Switch. Dive into this article to uncover the fascinating journey of its development and the significant adjustments made when transitioning to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Kart World Developer Insights

Prototyping Began in 2017

Mario Kart World, the latest installment in the beloved racing-kart series, is set to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. However, its development roots trace back to 2017, during the creation of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In the latest edition of Nintendo’s Ask the Developer series released on May 21, the Mario Kart World team shared their development journey. Producer Kosuke Yabuki revealed that the prototype was developed in March 2017, and by the year's end, the project was officially underway. Yabuki mentioned that they had refined the formula with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and aimed to elevate the series further.

Yabuki also clarified why the next game isn't titled Mario Kart 9, as many fans anticipated. He explained that their vision extended beyond merely adding new courses; they wanted to revolutionize the series. "So, we'd already added ‘MARIO KART WORLD’ to the concept art from the early stages of development," he stated.

Shifting to Switch 2

Programming Director Kenta Sato disclosed that the shift to the Nintendo Switch 2 was considered by Yabuki in 2020. At that point, they had a vague understanding of the next-gen Switch's capabilities but had to rely on provisional estimates until they received actual development units. "Until then, we just had to proceed with development based on provisional estimates," Sato explained.

The team was keen on ensuring their ambitious vision could be realized within the new console's performance parameters. Sato noted, "Of course, the Switch system's performance is sufficient for developing different kinds of games, but if we had included everything we wanted to in this game's vast world, then it wouldn't have run at 60 fps and would have suffered from constant framerate drops."

With a clearer picture of the Switch 2's capabilities, their concerns dissipated, and they were confident in bringing their vision to life. "I remember being overjoyed when I discovered we could express even more than we'd originally set out to," Sato remarked.

Transitioning to the Switch 2 required upgrading their assets. Art Director Masaaki Ishikawa mentioned that the graphics needed to be more detailed. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, the art team was relieved to have the opportunity to enhance the game's visuals significantly. The shift allowed them to add more elements like trees to the terrain, enriching the overall art and overcoming previous performance limitations.

Cow Being a Playable Character

Fans were thrilled to learn that Cow, previously a non-playable character, will now be a racer in Mario Kart World. In past games, Cow was often just part of the scenery or an obstacle.

Ishikawa shared that each new Mario Kart game introduces a new character. He recounted the moment a designer's playful sketch of Cow racing sparked the idea. "And then one of the designers came up with that silly sketch of Cow cruising along, and I thought to myself, ‘This is it!’ (Laughs) So that's when we realized the course surroundings actually contained a lot of untapped resources." Ishikawa was pleasantly surprised by how well Cow fit into the game, suggesting potential for more NPC characters in future iterations.

The development team has meticulously crafted various aspects of the game to create a truly interconnected world. They've emphasized diverse food elements to enhance the game's world-building, adjusted karts for different terrains, and made ongoing changes to the tracks.

With the influx of exciting updates, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of the iconic plumber in this expansive new racing universe. Nintendo is poised to make a significant impact with the Switch 2, launching one of its most cherished franchises on day one.

Mario Kart World is scheduled for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our article below!