Rumors of the Nintendo Switch 2have been swirling for a while now, but I’m far more excited about the rumors thatMario Kart 9will release alongside the new console. As of now, nothing about the Switch 2 has been confirmed. In fact, we don’t even know if Nintendo is actually going to call it that (though if I had to guess based on their previous console names, they won’t). That said, a potentialMario Kart 9release isn’t the most far-fetched idea. Even if it doesn’t happen at launch,a newMario Kartseems likely.
It’s been a while sinceMario Kart 8came out, so it feels like the time is ripe for a new installment in the series, and the release of a new console feels like the perfect opportunity for it to come out. As a long-time fan of the series,a newMario Kartgamewould be big news for me, and honestly a lot more exciting than an announcement of a new console. After all, what’s exciting about a new console without knowing what games will be on it?
It’s Been 10 Years Since The Last Mario Kart Game
Mario Kart 8 Was Originally Released In 2014
The Nintendo Switch wasthe first major Nintendo console since the Super Nintendo that didn’t have its own newMario Kartgame. Although it did getMario Kart 8 Deluxein 2017, this was simply an updated version ofMario Kart 8for the Wii U, which originally came out in 2014. This 10-year gap is also the longest the series has gone since its inception without releasing a new title. And even thoughMario Kart 8has gotten DLCas recently as 2023, I would really like to see a new installment of the series.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Producer Discusses What Made It A Success
After Mario Kart 8 sold more than 50 million copies, one of the game’s producers explains how the game’s design was a perfect match for the Switch.
Mario Kartgames are typically as innovative as the new console they are released on.Double Dash!!made a big leap in the presentation style and the way karts handle,Mario Kart DSintroduced online play,Mario Kart Wiiadded motion controls, etc. Because the Switch never got its own newMario Kartgame, we have yet to see what kind of innovations a newer Nintendo system could bring to the series. While it’s disappointing that the series will skip this generation,Mario Kart 9could introduce some unique features based on whatever innovations the “Switch 2” brings with it.
Nintendo Has A Lot To Pull From For New Mario Kart Courses
Mario Kart Courses Often Reference Nintendo’s Current Era
One element ofMario Kartseries that I really enjoy is howeach game’s courses serve as a sort of snapshot of where Nintendo and theMariofranchise areat the time of its release. For example, “Peach Beach” inMario Kart: Double Dash!!perfectly captures GameCube-era Mario, where his mainline game was the tropicalSuper Mario Sunshine. The same goes for the other Nintendo games featured as courses, withMario Kart 8’sAnimal Crossingcourse reflecting the series' latest installment at the time,New Leaf.
I Thought I Was Done With Animal Crossing, And Then I Played New Leaf
My love of Animal Crossing, the ultimate cozy life sim, slowly waned as I got older. That was until I started playing the wonderful New Leaf.
In the 10 years sinceMario Kart 8’s new release, there have been plenty ofMariogames and other Nintendo games that could inspirenew courses forMario Kart 9.Super Mario OdysseyandLuigi’s Mansion 3were both released afterMario Kart 8and could serve as inspiration for new courses. If Link makes another appearance, it would be a lot of fun to get a new Hyrule course based onBreath of the WildorTears of the Kingdom. Additionally,an updatedAnimal Crossingcourse seems like a no-brainerafterAnimal Crossing New Horizons’ success.
Mario Kart Captures The Appeal Of Nintendo Consoles
Nintendo Consoles Are Best For Social Gaming
To me, the biggest appeal for a new Nintendo system has always been the promise of new installments in Nintendo’s major franchises. If I want a console to play major AAA releases, I have a PlayStation. If I want to play fun indie games, I have my PC. So, if I’m going to shell out money for a new Nintendo console, I’d really like to know that it is going to give me the one thing I expect of it.The inclusion ofMario Kart 9on the new console would go a long way toward selling me on it.
While I enjoy single-player games likeZeldaor platformers in theMarioseries,I have also always seen Nintendo systems as more of the social console. I love games likeMario KartandMario Partythat have a low barrier of entry but offer the potential to create a (sometimes overly) competitive atmosphere among a group of friends. Without games like theseorSuper Smash Bros., I’m not sure the prospect of a new Nintendo console holds the same appeal to me as it might to some other players.
The Switch 2 Isn’t A Terribly Exciting Console
A Second Switch Lacks The Same Excitement As Previous Nintendo Consoles
I don’t want to be too harsh on the Switch 2. We don’t even know for sure if it exists yet or what new features it may bring. That said, if it is just an updated version of the Switch like the fan-given name implies, I don’t particularly get the excitement.
Thelatest Switch 2 leaksindicate an apparently similar design with a larger screen, reinforcing the idea that the biggest change will simply be upgrades to power.
Since the Wii,Nintendo established itself as a major innovator in the console space. As console wars raged between the largely similar Xbox and PlayStation consoles of previous generations, Nintendo has stood apart offering something unique with each new console. The idea of a Switch 2, a direct sequel console that doesn’t bring something new and exciting to the table, just doesn’t live up to what I’ve come to expect from Nintendo’s creativity when it comes to making new consoles.
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Without any official word from Nintendo yet on what their next console will look like, I will hold out hope that it will be something new and exciting. That said, it’s hard to get too excited about vague Switch 2 rumors at the moment. I’m open to having my mind changed by an actual announcement that showcases new features, but without that, the basic idea of a new Switch console doesn’t interest me all that much.
Confirmation of a new console generation in general doesn’t excite me. It’s more of a reminder that I’ll be forced to shell out a large sum of cash to keep up with new games. In contrast,Mario Kart 9is a much more concrete rumor to get excited about. Honestly, if I had to choose between the Switch 2 getting announced or simply getting aMario Kart 9for the current generation Switch, I’d chooseMario Kartevery time.
Mario Kart World
Developed and published by Nintendo, Mario Kart World is the long-awaited sequel to Mario Kart 8. A sprawling, interconnected world features 24 racers navigate dynamic terrains and shifting weather. The Knockout Tour mode intensifies competition with eliminations at checkpoints, while Free Roam offers a leisurely exploration filled with secrets.
