One of the biggest announcements from the recentNintendo Switch 2Direct wasn’t a newFromSoftware gameor the new3D Donkey Kong platformer.
It was the official reveal ofNintendo’s newest entry in the Mario Kart franchise, Mario Kart World!
Mario Kart World – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Kart World is launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 29, 2025!
In what promises to be the biggestMario Kartyet, Mario Kart World boasts over 40 playable characters with support of up to 24 players at a time.
The gameplay features a more open-world design compared to past entries in the franchise, alongside the new Knock Out mode, which brings a Battle Royale twist to the world of Mario Kart.
One thing that was not announced was a full track list, butan eagle-eyed Reddit usersaw a leak on the official Nintendo website, hinting at the return of a fan-favorite track.
It wouldn’t be Mario Kart without Rainbow Road, so it’s nice to see the track make a return. One has to wonder how it’ll fit into the open world nature of Mario Kart World, though I’m sure Nintendo will find a way to make it happen.
Mario Kart World’s Price Point Is Giving Fans Sticker Shock
The price point for Mario Kart World, listed as $80 for digital and possibly upwards of $90 for physical, was one big talking point throughout the week.
While Mario Kart World is available bundled with the Nintendo Switch 2 for a total of $499.99, which is $50 more than the console alone, many are frustrated with the current pricing model for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games.
Every Mario Kart Game, Ranked
Mario Kart is a series full of fantastic games, but which one is the best of the bunch? Check out our ranking to see how your favorite stacks up.
Nintendo vows that $80won’t be the case for every game. “We’ll look at each game, really look at the development that’s gone into the game, the breadth and depth of the gameplay, if you will, the durability over time and the repeatability of gameplay experiences,” Nintendo of America Doug Bowser recently toldThe Washington Post. Whether or not that is true, especially in a world where we may be getting a$100 Grand Theft Auto 6, remains to be seen.
