Mario Kart World was officially announced, and we were given a lot of information about it at the Nintendo Direct, which primarily featured information and games for the Switch 2. It has a new open-world mechanic and lots of new things that we will all want to explore once it comes out. For now, however, here is what we do know about the newest iteration of Mario Kart and what it means for the rest of the games.

The Nintendo Direct for the Switch 2 revealed a lot of information, but we didn't see too many first-party games for the new console. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza are the two biggest ones right now, both of which look new and exciting. However, both of them have also raised concerns as well, and we will have to wait and see if the excitement can overcome those concerns.

When Mario Kart World Releases

Confirmation & Its Relation To The Nintendo Switch 2

It was announced at the Nintendo Direct that Mario Kart World would release on the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2. Later, we found out that that would be June 5, 2025, so we have exactly two months before both the console and the game release. It's interesting that this seems to be the main first-party game coming out at the same time as the console, as Donkey Kong Bonanza doesn't release until July.

The other Nintendo launch title we know of right now is the Welcome Tour, which has already raised some concerns within moments of its announcement. However, with Mario Kart World having a very Forza-like aesthetic and appeal to it, it is likely that we will have a fairly large game on our hands to keep us occupied until other titles come out, particularly if the prince is indicative of the size of the game.

Mario Kart World Price & Platform

A High & An Exclusive Release

The direct also revealed that Mario Kart World would be an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2, meaning that anyone who doesn't want to upgrade just yet won't be able to play it. This is likely due to some of the technical aspects of the new console, as they have had to do some added work to make the console mostly backward-compatible.

The new console also has a higher graphical output when docked, which is most likely another reason to keep the new game exclusive to the new console. While it is unfortunate for those that are waiting or can't afford to upgrade just yet, I am in favor of making the game better and up to the new standards for those that have paid the price for it.

Speaking of, the price was announced to be $79.99, making it over $80 with taxes. This is a large for any game that is not a "Deluxe Edition." While rumors have speculated that GTA 6's price will be high as well, Nintendo pushing a Mario Kart game into the $80 range is more worrying to me. For a while, Nintendo's prices were, at the outset, a little lower than other consoles' games as they usually released games at the $59.99 price, which was the case for Breath of the Wild.

That changed with the release of Tears of the Kingdom, which had bumped its price up to $69.99. With Mario Kart World being priced at $79.99 and Donkey Kong Bonanza listed at $69.99, it seems all Nintendo games have been pushed up in price.

And the difference between GTA 6 and Mario Kart World, for me anyway, is that while I know GTA 6 will go on sale, Nintendo tends to keep their first-party games at full price for the life of the game, and if they do go on sale, it's never by much. We will have to wait and see what the long-term effects of this are, but it is likely to have some ripple effects.

Mario Kart World Gameplay Details

All Gameplay Modes, Multiplayer Details, & The Open Road

We know that Mario Kart World is going to have an open-world aspect to it, much like the recent Forza games have. In fact, it looked much like the Forza games when the Nintendo trailer started playing for it at the beginning of the Direct. They also stated that everything was going to be connected, making it seem likely that players will be able to drive from one side of the map to the other. From the trailer, it seems that you will be able to drive between courses and start a race when you get there.

In the open world, we can see images of the various kart racers and the ability to drive across any terrain. Right now, we also know of three main gameplay modes:

• Grand Prix
• Knockout Tour
• Free Roam

The Grand Prix is similar to the versions of it in past games, with four races to decide the final winner. However, the main difference is that it will start with 24 racers, and the areas between the courses will have some aspect of racing to them as well, meaning you don't get to rest between races. It also sounds like mass chaos with 24 racers all on the course together.

Knockout Tour is a much bigger course, as you will be traversing the map entirely in some form or fashion. Like the Grand Prix, it will start with 24 racers, however, as you make it to a checkpoint, you might get eliminated. There are 5 total checkpoints, with 4 racers getting knocked out at each one. This means that by the end, there will only be 4 racers left competing for that podium, so make sure to use your items when they will count!

In Free Roam, you simply get to explore the map as you like, alone or with friends. Mario Kart World is also going to have the new GameChat integrated into it, so you can have up to 4-players all racing on the same system together and possibly with a facecam if you decide to buy the new Nintendo Switch 2 camera. It is not yet known how many players can in a race if they are all friends online, but presumably, it would match the highest number of racers.

All that said, I do hope there is a battle mode, as that is one of my favorite ways to play. I hope to see something about it at the Nintendo Direct that is going to be held solely for Mario Kart World, which is happening on April 17, 2025 at 9 EST.

Video Credit: YouTube/Nintendo