Mario Kart World Direct Reveals Groundbreaking Features for Nintendo Switch 2 Launch

Nintendo’s much-anticipated Mario Kart World Direct presentation has set the stage for what the company is calling “the biggest Mario Kart game in series history.” Set for release worldwide on June 5, 2025, Mario Kart World promises an unprecedented racing experience—one that redefines the franchise for the next-generation Nintendo Switch 2. A New Era of Racing: An Interconnected World For the first time in the Mario Kart franchise, players will traverse a fully interconnected world.

Courses are seamlessly linked by open roads, allowing racers to navigate from track to track in real-time.

According to Nintendo’s official breakdown, this innovation brings a new layer of immersion to the series, as players drift, draft, and drive between familiar and brand-new courses across a vast game world. Grand Prix and Knockout Tour: Next-Level Competition The series’ classic Grand Prix is expanded with a twist—racers must now physically drive from one course to another between events within each Cup, including returning favorites like the Mushroom Cup and all-new circuit challenges.

Additionally, the Knockout Tour mode introduces high-stakes, non-stop endurance rallies, dotted with checkpoints and environmental hazards from Bullet Bill-rigged vehicles to Hammer Bros.

attacks.

Fail to meet the pace and racers are promptly eliminated, making for a thrilling, high-intensity competition. Free Roam and Compact Missions Beyond traditional racing, Mario Kart World introduces an open Free Roam mode, inviting players to explore scenic vistas, discover hidden coins, take on hundreds of missions, or simply strike a pose with the in-game photo feature.

Outside of races, players have the opportunity to improve skills, uncover secrets, and engage with creative new objectives. Expanded Multiplayer and Social Features Pushing Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware, Mario Kart World supports up to 24 racers online, the largest lineup in franchise history.

Modes like Grand Prix and Knockout Tour are fully compatible with both local and global multiplayer, featuring split-screen for up to four players on a single console, local wireless for up to eight players (with two per system), and seamless online connectivity. Mario Kart World also introduces GameChat, a new voice chat system making use of the Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in microphone.

Players can communicate live during races and even spectate each other’s screens.

For face-to-face connections, CameraPlay integrates the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera (sold separately), displaying racers' real-time reactions on-screen both online and locally. Classic and New Content: Courses, Characters, and Items Fans can expect a lineup of reimagined classic circuits alongside all-new tracks like Mario Bros.

Circuit, Crown City, Starview Peak, and Boo Cinema.

The roster includes mainstays such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, as well as unique options like Goomba, Spike, and Cow.

New and returning items such as the Coin Shell, Ice Flower, Hammer, Mega Mushroom, Feather, and Kamek’s magic offer strategic gameplay and unpredictable twists. Customization, Accessibility, and Assist Options Mario Kart World caters to a wide audience with features like Smart Steering, Auto-Accelerate, and motion controls via the Joy-Con 2 Wheel accessory (sold separately).

Custom rule sets for VS Race, expanded Battle Modes, and new time trial challenges contribute to the game’s depth and replayability. Retail and Digital Launch Details Mario Kart World will be available in physical format via retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

This milestone release underlines Nintendo’s commitment to innovation and community-centric gameplay, setting a new benchmark for the iconic franchise.

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