Mario Kart World: Originally Planned for Switch 1

The producer of Mario Kart World has revealed that the game was initially developed for the Nintendo Switch. Dive deeper into the story to understand the evolution of this title and the significant adjustments made during its transition to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Kart World Developer Insights

Prototyping Began in 2017

Mario Kart World, the latest addition to the iconic racing-kart driving series, is set to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. However, its development journey started back in 2017, parallel to the work on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In the latest installment of Nintendo’s Ask the Developer series released on May 21, the team behind Mario Kart World provided fascinating insights into the game's creation. Producer Kosuke Yabuki mentioned that after crafting the prototype in March 2017, the project officially kicked off by the end of that year. He highlighted that they had refined the formula with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and aimed to create something grander.

Yabuki also addressed the curiosity around why the next game isn't titled Mario Kart 9. He explained that their vision extended beyond simply adding more courses; they wanted to elevate the series to new heights. Therefore, they opted for a fresh title, stating, "So, we'd already added ‘MARIO KART WORLD’ to the concept art from the early stages of development."

Shifting to Switch 2

Programming Director Kenta Sato revealed that the decision to shift development to the Nintendo Switch 2 came in 2020. At that point, the team had a preliminary understanding of the next-gen console's capabilities but didn't have actual development units until later. Sato noted, "Until then, we just had to proceed with development based on provisional estimates."

The team's primary concern was ensuring their vision could be realized within the new console's performance limits. Sato elaborated, "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."

Once they gained a clear understanding of the Switch 2’s capabilities, their concerns dissipated, and they felt confident in creating the game they envisioned. Sato shared, "I remember being overjoyed when I discovered we could express even more than we'd originally set out to."

However, moving to the Switch 2 required enhancing the quality of their assets. Art Director Masaaki Ishikawa explained that the graphics needed to be more detailed. Rather than feeling daunted by these changes, the art team embraced the opportunity to do more. The transition to the Switch 2 provided more freedom, allowing them to enhance the game's visuals, such as adding more trees to the terrain and enriching the art, which were previously limited by the original Switch's performance.

Cow Being a Playable Character

Fans were thrilled to see in the trailer that Cow would be a playable character for the first time. Previously, Cow was merely a non-playable character, often part of the background or an obstacle.

Ishikawa shared that each new Mario Kart game introduces a new character to race as. He recounted, "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 that Cow's inclusion felt seamless, opening the door to potentially adding more NPC characters in future games, as it aligned with their vision of an interconnected world.

Beyond the innovative addition of an NPC as a playable racer, the developers focused on various aspects of the game to achieve their interconnected world. They emphasized diverse food elements to enhance the world's richness, and made adjustments to the karts to better navigate various terrains. Continuous modifications to the tracks were also a priority.

With the influx of updates and information, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of the beloved plumber in this expansive new racing world. Nintendo is set to make a strong statement with the Switch 2, launching one of its most cherished franchises on the console's debut day.

Mario Kart World is scheduled for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned to our articles for the latest updates on the game!