Mario Kart World: Why Only Mario Characters Are Playable, Says Producer Kosuke Yabuki

Mario Kart World: Why Only Mario Characters Are Playable, Says Producer Kosuke Yabuki Mario Kart World, the highly anticipated continuation of Nintendo’s beloved kart racing franchise, recently launched on Nintendo Switch, drawing in both seasoned fans and new players with its enhanced tracks, expansive features, and competitive online modes.

As with previous entries, the character roster remains a central topic of discussion, with players eagerly speculating about potential newcomers and franchise crossovers. However, fans hoping to see Nintendo icons from outside the Mario universe, such as Link from The Legend of Zelda or Isabelle from Animal Crossing—who made memorable appearances in Mario Kart 8—will find that Mario Kart World features a cast strictly limited to characters from the Mario franchise.

This deliberate decision was confirmed by Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki in an interview with Ouest-France. When asked about the possibility of adding characters from other Nintendo series, Yabuki explained that including outsiders would have felt out of place within the game’s universe.

Paraphrasing his response, Yabuki stated that, from a developer’s perspective, bringing in characters from different games did not blend cohesively with Mario Kart’s world.

He added that with an already vast selection of Mario characters and costumes in Mario Kart World, the development team saw little need for cross-franchise additions, believing there was more than enough diversity within the Mario universe itself. Yabuki emphasized that while the team is attentive to how fans react to the cast, the sheer number of unique characters and customizations available should offer something for everyone.

He shared that the roster was designed to accommodate a wide range of player preferences, further underlining Nintendo’s commitment to accessibility and fun across their flagship titles. Notably, Kosuke Yabuki previously served as a producer on Nintendo’s ARMS.

When questioned whether ARMS characters were ever seriously considered for inclusion in Mario Kart World, Yabuki humorously dismissed the idea, reinforcing the focus on maintaining the Mario series’ identity in its most recent entry. Mario Kart World continues to build on the legacy established by its predecessors, offering robust content updates and staying at the forefront of the Nintendo Switch’s best-selling titles.

The decision to limit playable characters to those from the Mario franchise highlights the development team’s dedication to preserving the essence of the series while delivering exciting new experiences for longtime fans.

For more official news and updates, stay tuned to Nintendo Direct and the Nintendo eShop.

Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch Kart Kosuke Yabuki Yabuki ARMS Mario Kart 8 The Legend of Zelda Animal Crossing Ouest-France