Nintendo has confirmed that Mario Kart Tour, the mobile entry in its flagship karting franchise, will end service on September 29, 2026.
Launched on September 25, 2019 for iOS and Android, Mario Kart Tour was developed in partnership between Nintendo’s EPD division and mobile partner DeNA and has operated as Nintendo’s primary mobile take on the Mario Kart formula.
According to Nintendo’s announcement, the game’s online servers will be turned off on September 29, 2026, and all microtransactions have already been disabled.
In other words, the in-game currency known as rubies is no longer available for purchase.
Nintendo also detailed how the Gold Pass subscription will be handled: existing Gold Pass subscribers will retain Gold Pass benefits through the game’s end of service, while players who are not currently subscribed will receive Gold Pass benefits beginning August 4, 2026 and continuing until the servers close.
Gold Pass benefits have included features such as exclusive challenges, access to 200cc races, and additional in-game coins.
Nintendo’s notice clarifies that those subscription benefits will remain active for the short window leading to closure.
Nintendo additionally stated that it does not plan to provide an offline version of Mario Kart Tour to allow continued play after the shutdown.
That means once the servers close, the title will no longer be playable in its current form.
Context and franchise background: the Mario Kart series began with Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992 and has since become one of Nintendo’s most enduring IPs across home and handheld platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.
Mario Kart Tour represented Nintendo’s mobile-focused approach to the series, offering touch-driven controls, time-limited tours, and live-service elements adapted for iOS and Android devices.
What players need to know: the key dates are already set—microtransactions are disabled now and server operations cease on September 29, 2026.
Gold Pass access will be granted on a temporary basis to all players from August 4, 2026 until shutdown for those not already subscribed, while current subscribers keep benefits through the end of service.
For players and industry observers, the closure marks the end of nearly seven years of Nintendo’s mobile take on Mario Kart and highlights how live-service mobile titles are managed when publishers elect to retire online services.
Launched on September 25, 2019 for iOS and Android, Mario Kart Tour was developed in partnership between Nintendo’s EPD division and mobile partner DeNA and has operated as Nintendo’s primary mobile take on the Mario Kart formula.
According to Nintendo’s announcement, the game’s online servers will be turned off on September 29, 2026, and all microtransactions have already been disabled.
In other words, the in-game currency known as rubies is no longer available for purchase.
Nintendo also detailed how the Gold Pass subscription will be handled: existing Gold Pass subscribers will retain Gold Pass benefits through the game’s end of service, while players who are not currently subscribed will receive Gold Pass benefits beginning August 4, 2026 and continuing until the servers close.
Gold Pass benefits have included features such as exclusive challenges, access to 200cc races, and additional in-game coins.
Nintendo’s notice clarifies that those subscription benefits will remain active for the short window leading to closure.
Nintendo additionally stated that it does not plan to provide an offline version of Mario Kart Tour to allow continued play after the shutdown.
That means once the servers close, the title will no longer be playable in its current form.
Context and franchise background: the Mario Kart series began with Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992 and has since become one of Nintendo’s most enduring IPs across home and handheld platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.
Mario Kart Tour represented Nintendo’s mobile-focused approach to the series, offering touch-driven controls, time-limited tours, and live-service elements adapted for iOS and Android devices.
What players need to know: the key dates are already set—microtransactions are disabled now and server operations cease on September 29, 2026.
Gold Pass access will be granted on a temporary basis to all players from August 4, 2026 until shutdown for those not already subscribed, while current subscribers keep benefits through the end of service.
For players and industry observers, the closure marks the end of nearly seven years of Nintendo’s mobile take on Mario Kart and highlights how live-service mobile titles are managed when publishers elect to retire online services.
