Mario Kart World Almost Broke A Long-Running Series Convention

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Summary

  • Mario Kart World almost broke Mario Kart’s single-game-per-console tradition due to development challenges.
  • Limited hardware capabilities on Nintendo Switch prevented Mario Kart World from featuring 24-player races.
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC allowed developers to wait for the Switch 2’s stronger hardware for Mario Kart World.

A chat with the creators behind the forthcoming “Mario Kart World” has disclosed a fascinating tidbit: They almost shattered a long-standing tradition in the Mario Kart series, a move that might have caused quite a stir if it were implemented.

With its Nintendo Switch Online service, the Nintendo Switch can play almost all Mario Kart games. However, some exceptions exist – notably Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and the arcade versions, which might be included in the upcoming library for the Nintendo Switch 2, though this hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Despite the nostalgic namesakes, Nintendo has generally released a single Mario Kart game per console platform, beginning with the SNES. However, an interview on the official Nintendo site revealed that this tradition might have been broken – the game “Mario Kart World” was initially intended for release on the Nintendo Switch.

Mario Kart World Almost Launched On The Nintendo Switch

Initially, the Nintendo Switch featured a Mario Kart game, specifically Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which was an upgraded edition of the original game from the Wii U’s series lineup. This version came packed with a wealth of additional content, and the Booster Pass expansion significantly increased this content by adding numerous new stages to the mix.

Originally, the plan was for Mario Kart World to serve as the second installment for the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, the developers encountered challenges in making the game’s concepts compatible with the hardware, including accommodating up to 24 players in a single race.

During our design process for the Nintendo Switch, it was challenging to include all our desired features without making sacrifices. We were mindful of what we needed to set aside in order to make things work. For instance, we talked about reducing graphics quality, lowering resolution, and sometimes even opting for a 30 frames per second rate. It was a demanding situation.

The downloadable content (DLC) for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe provided them with the necessary time to hold off on releasing a new game until the Nintendo Switch 2, boasting more powerful hardware, arrives; this will enable the development team to fully actualize their aspirations.

It’s surprising to consider that the Nintendo Switch might have been the initial console to host two versions of Mario Kart, suggesting Nintendo is open to such concepts. It’s possible that the potential Nintendo Switch 2 could see a follow-up Mario Kart game in the future.

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2025-05-21 20:39