Mario Kart 9 Rumored to Have 24-Player Races: A Game-Changing Feature?

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After what seems like a very long time, the Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been unveiled. The reveal trailer, which lasted more than two minutes, provided a good glimpse of some unique aspects that differentiate this console from its earlier version. During the video, we got to see the gleaming new console, its stylish dock, and the intriguing magnetic Joy-Cons. Nintendo hinted at the upcoming Mario Kart installment as well.

In just under 20 seconds of screen time, there isn’t much for fans to gather about the unexpected debut of Mario Kart 9. Some fresh character designs are noticeable, and it appears that the trailer hints at a more flexible track design. However, some keen-eyed spectators believe they may have discovered a potential first-of-its-kind feature in the sequel, which, if confirmed, could significantly impact the roster.

It hasn’t been officially verified by Nintendo yet if this is indeed the upcoming Mario Kart game or if its title will be Mario Kart 9.

Mario Kart 9’s Rumored Lobby Size Could Be Huge for Its Roster

Mario Kart 9 Is Rumored to Have 24-Player Races

At approximately 1 minute and 40 seconds into the Nintendo Switch 2’s first look trailer, which features the Mario Kart section, viewers will notice a common scene of well-known Nintendo characters lining up at the start of a racetrack. What sets this apart is that there are more starting positions on the track than fans typically see.

In the initial scene, you count twenty-four distinct vehicle spaces arranged in four rows with six spaces diagonal to each other. Although there are less than twenty-four racers on the track and their go-karts don’t seem organized according to traditional race grids, speculation among fans suggests that this setup hints at Mario Kart 9 potentially offering twenty-four-player races. This would be a significant increase compared to Mario Kart 8, which accommodated a maximum of twelve racers, with only eight being controlled by human players.

14 karts are visible in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer towards the end, with Mario, Bowser, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, and Toad prominently displayed in the foreground. In the background, you can catch glimpses of Waluigi, Baby Luigi, and several other racers, hinting at the possibility that up to 24 players could be involved in a race simultaneously.

24-Player Races Could Imply The Existence of a Big Day-One Roster for Mario Kart 9

If it’s true that Mario Kart 9 supports 24-player races, then we can anticipate that at least 24 distinct characters will be part of the game at its launch. Although this is currently just speculation, given the impressive roster shown in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it seems reasonable for Mario Kart 9 to boast a large character selection right from the start, aiming to surpass the high standards set by its predecessor.

In 2014, the release of Mario Kart 8 came with a starting lineup of 29 characters, excluding the customizable Mii racer. Additional downloadable content (DLC) later brought in a few more characters, as well as different-colored versions of Yoshi and Shy Guy. This eventually led to the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with 40 characters. With the introduction of the Booster Course Pass DLC, the character roster in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has now expanded to a total of 48 unique characters.

It would be quite disheartening if Mario Kart 9 debuts with fewer characters than fans have come to expect. However, it’s also possible that this gameplay footage doesn’t showcase all the characters in the final version, making this conversation somewhat unnecessary.

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2025-01-17 15:05