Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct: All Revealed Features, Courses, and Characters for Switch 2 Launch

Nintendo has pulled back the curtain on Mario Kart World with its first Nintendo Direct entirely focused on a single Switch 2 title.

The 15-minute presentation, streamed on April 17th, 2025, offered fans a comprehensive look at the game’s expansive features, new and classic courses, character roster, and game modes, all in anticipation of its global launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th. Mario Kart World is the flagship racing title developed by Nintendo for its next-generation hardware, the Nintendo Switch 2.

Building on decades of kart-racing innovation, this installment aims to bring together the franchise’s iconic elements with exciting new mechanics, enhanced online capabilities, and a deeper world to explore.

The latest Nintendo Direct served as an in-depth overview, giving industry insiders and fans alike a clear picture of what to expect when the green flag drops. **New and Returning Courses** The presentation showcased a plethora of fresh racetracks such as Mario Bros.

Circuit, Crown City, Salty Salty Speedway, Starview Peak, and Boo Cinema—each brimming with imaginative design and dynamic elements.

In addition, several fan-favorite courses are making their return, including Toad’s Factory, Peach Beach, and Wario Shipyards, as well as enhanced versions of classics like Koopa Troopa Beach.

The game will also feature day/night cycles for a varied racing experience. **Expanded Character Roster** Longstanding series staples—Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, and Yoshi—headline a broad lineup, while new racers like Goomba, Spike, Cow, and Lakitu add fresh faces to the starting grid.

Nintendo confirmed an "enormous roster," ensuring a diverse selection for multiplayer mayhem. **Refined Game Modes and Mechanics** Mario Kart World introduces two primary race types: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour, each supporting up to 24 racers per event.

In Grand Prix mode, players will drive between courses within a cup, adding an open-world twist to the traditional format.

Successful completion of all cups will unlock a vibrant bonus course, widely recognized by fans as Rainbow Road. The Knockout Tour mode brings high-stakes elimination racing, with courses like Golden Rally, Ice Rally, Moon Rally, and Spiny Rally.

After each checkpoint, the four racers at the back are eliminated, amplifying the competitive atmosphere. **Items and New Features** Classic items such as Mega Mushroom and Feather return alongside newcomers like the Coin Shell, Ice Flower, and Hammer, each introducing new strategies for racing and defense.

The show highlighted support features including Smart Steering, Auto-accelerate, and Tilt Controls, ensuring accessibility for players of all skill levels.

Costumes can also be unlocked by collecting regional foods, adding a layer of customization tied to in-game exploration. Mario Kart World innovates with new moves like Charge Jump—which grants a turbo boost when holding down the slide button in a straight line—and Wall Ride for enhanced maneuverability.

The Rewind feature, available in Free Roam and races, allows players to reverse to retry missed shortcuts, although the competition continues moving forward during rewinds. **Robust Modes and Multiplayer** Time Trials now support ghost downloads from online racers, while VS Race accommodates up to 24 racers split into four teams, with both classic and customizable rulesets.

Battle Mode returns with classics like Balloon Battle and Coin Runners.

The much-touted Free Roam mode lets players explore iconic locations, tackle hundreds of missions via P-Switches, uncover secrets, and utilize an expanded photo mode. Mario Kart World supports four-player local splitscreen and local wireless play for up to 16 players across multiple Switch 2 consoles.

Online, up to 24 players can compete simultaneously, with Free Roam and GameChat enhancing the social experience.

Notably, the game is compatible with the Switch 2 camera, bringing players’ faces into the competition during local play. With launch less than two months away, Mario Kart World is set to revitalize the beloved franchise for a new generation, leveraging Switch 2’s hardware capabilities and online ecosystem.

For the latest updates and in-depth analysis on Nintendo Switch 2 launches, keep following our coverage.

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