Monolith Soft Collaborates with Nintendo on Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2

Monolith Soft Assists Nintendo with Mario Kart World Development for Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo has once again partnered with renowned developer Monolith Soft for the latest entry in its iconic kart racing series—Mario Kart World, now available for Nintendo Switch 2.

Renowned for its critical and commercial success with the Xenoblade series, Monolith Soft has become an indispensable support studio for Nintendo, lending its expertise to some of the publisher’s most ambitious projects over the past decade. In an official update shared via social media, Monolith Soft announced its integral role in the production of Mario Kart World, stating that the studio was ‘contracted to develop the field and character designs’ for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 title.

This contribution continues Monolith Soft’s impressive track record, having previously provided development support for celebrated titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Splatoon 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Monolith Soft's extensive experience in designing expansive, seamless game environments is particularly notable given Mario Kart World’s introduction of the Free Roam mode, a first for the series.

Their expertise likely enhanced both the scale and navigational elements of this open-world innovation.

Additionally, the developer’s design strengths may have influenced the Knockout Tour mode, which dynamically connects multiple racetracks, offering fans new, cohesive challenges. Industry response to Mario Kart World has been overwhelmingly positive, with early previews praising its innovation and polish.

As highlighted in one such preview, the reviewer remarked, “Going into Mario Kart World, it was difficult to imagine how Nintendo could top Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but early hands-on experience suggests that Mario Kart World is set to launch Nintendo Switch 2 with another ground-breaking entry in the franchise.” Mario Kart World launched globally, available both at retail and as a digital download through the Nintendo eShop, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

The game’s release cements Nintendo’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of its longstanding franchises, and Monolith Soft’s role reaffirms its reputation as one of the industry’s premier support studios.

As the gaming world races into this next generation, Mario Kart World stands out as a testament to the power of collaboration within Nintendo’s development ecosystem.

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