Mario Kart World was initially developed for the Nintendo Switch, but exciting developments led the team to shift their focus to the Switch 2. Dive into the fascinating journey of how this iconic racing game evolved and the innovative changes made during the transition.
Mario Kart World Developer Insights
Prototyping Began in 2017
Mario Kart World, the latest addition to the beloved racing-kart series, is set to launch with the Nintendo Switch 2. However, its roots trace back to 2017, during the development of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
In a recent installment of Nintendo’s Ask the Developer series on May 21, the Mario Kart World team provided a deep dive into the game's creation. Producer Kosuke Yabuki revealed that after crafting a prototype in March 2017, the project officially kicked off by the end of that year. Yabuki emphasized that they had honed the series' formula with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and were eager to expand on that success.
Yabuki also clarified why the new game isn't titled Mario Kart 9, as fans might have anticipated. The team's vision extended beyond merely adding new courses; they sought to elevate the series to new heights. "So, we'd already added ‘MARIO KART WORLD’ to the concept art from the early stages of development," Yabuki explained, highlighting their ambitious approach.
Shifting to Switch 2
Programming Director Kenta Sato shared that the transition to the Switch 2 began in 2020. Although the team had a general idea of the next-gen console's capabilities, it wasn't until later that they could work with actual development units. "Until then, we just had to proceed with development based on provisional estimates," Sato noted.
The developers were committed to ensuring that their vision could be realized within the Switch 2's performance parameters. 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."
With a clear understanding of the Switch 2's capabilities, the team's concerns dissipated, and they felt confident in bringing their envisioned game to life. "I remember being overjoyed when I discovered we could express even more than we'd originally set out to," Sato remarked.
However, the shift to the Switch 2 necessitated an upgrade in asset quality. Art Director Masaaki Ishikawa highlighted the need for more detailed graphics. Rather than feeling daunted, the art team was relieved, as the Switch 2 allowed them to enrich the game's visuals, adding more elements like trees to the terrain that were previously restricted by the original Switch's performance.
Cow Being a Playable Character
The Mario Kart community was thrilled to learn from the game's trailer that Cow would be a playable character for the first time. In past titles, Cow was merely a non-playable character, often part of the scenery or an obstacle to dodge.
Ishikawa explained that introducing new characters is a tradition in each Mario Kart game. "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," he said. Surprisingly, Cow's inclusion felt natural and opened the door to potentially including more NPCs as playable characters, enhancing the game's interconnected world.
Beyond Cow's addition, the developers focused on various aspects to create a more immersive world. They paid attention to diverse food elements to enrich the game's environment, made adjustments to karts for different terrains, and continuously refined the tracks.
With the anticipation building, fans are eager to see Mario and friends race through this expansive new world. Nintendo's commitment to launching Mario Kart World with the Switch 2 underscores the importance of this franchise to their lineup.
Mario Kart World is slated for release on June 5, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our related articles below!
