Mario Kart World Development Began in 2017, Says Producer Kosuke Yabuki

Nintendo has officially confirmed that development on Mario Kart World, the highly anticipated new entry in the iconic racing franchise, began in early 2017.

The revelation comes from producer Kosuke Yabuki, a key figure at Nintendo who has been instrumental in shaping the evolution of the Mario Kart series.

This new title is poised to make its debut as a launch game for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, reinforcing Nintendo’s tradition of introducing flagship software alongside new hardware. Development Origins for Mario Kart World Yabuki recently shared insights into the development timeline and creative direction of Mario Kart World.

According to the producer, work began shortly after the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch, which hit store shelves in April 2017.

In his words, the team initiated a prototype phase in March 2017, directly following the critical and commercial success of its predecessor.

By the close of that year, Mario Kart World had transitioned from prototyping to full-fledged production. In a detailed interview, Yabuki explained, “During the final stages of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, we already started to consider directions for the next installment.

We kicked off prototyping in March 2017, and by the end of that year, the project was officially underway.

We believed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had perfected the series’ approach of individual race tracks, so our next goal was to create an experience where players could freely navigate a large, connected world.

That’s when we started working on a comprehensive world map design.” A New Approach: Open-World Racing on Nintendo Switch 2 This marks a significant shift in the series’ philosophy.

Where previous games emphasized isolated tracks, Mario Kart World aims to immerse players in an interconnected world that can be explored and raced on without traditional barriers.

The open-world structure is a notable leap for the franchise and demonstrates Nintendo’s willingness to innovate with its best-selling titles. Release Date and Platform Mario Kart World is set to launch globally on June 5, 2025, serving as a major first-party title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo’s decision to align this game’s release with its newest hardware underlines its importance within the company’s software lineup.

Fans can expect the game to be available via both physical retail outlets and the Nintendo eShop, ensuring strong accessibility at launch. Legacy and Impact Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains one of the Nintendo Switch’s best-selling games, having surpassed 55 million units sold worldwide as of March 2024.

The development of Mario Kart World builds upon this legacy while introducing new gameplay concepts that could redefine what fans expect from the series. With a storied history of innovation, Nintendo and producer Kosuke Yabuki are aiming to deliver another milestone experience for both long-time enthusiasts and newcomers when Mario Kart World debuts on Nintendo Switch 2 next year.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch 2 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch Mario Kart 8 Kart Kosuke Yabuki