Mario Kart 8 is nearly as old as Grand Theft Auto V. The original game released in 2014 on the ill-fated Wii U. Since the Wii U underperformed, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe arrived in 2017 as an enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch with new exclusive characters, all previous DLC bundled, and a redeveloped Battle Mode.
Like GTA V, MK8 Deluxe is a strong seller, regularly appearing in the weekly charts despite its age. In fact, in the first week of 2022 MK8 Deluxe placed first in the UK physical game charts according to sales data released by GamesIndustry.bz. And like GTA V, MK8 Deluxe is long overdue for a sequel. But are the Mario Kart 9 rumours true?
Every Nintendo Direct, we have our fingers crossed that Mario Kart 9 will be announced, only to be disappointed. It’s now been eight years since MK8 released, leaving fans wondering if MK9 will powerslide onto Nintendo Switch.However, MK9 is reportedly in “active development” according to industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto.
Writing on GamesIndustry.bz, Toto claims MK9 will have a “new twist.” Furthermore, the analyst predicts Nintendo will tease MK9 this year.
Mario Kart 9 has a "new twist"
What could MK9’s new twist be? It’s difficult to predict, but Mario Kart sequels usually introduce new gameplay gimmicks. MK Wii, for example, introduced motion controls allowing players to steer with the Wii Racing Wheel. MK7 featured hand-gliders and underwater sections while MK8 introduced anti-gravity racing.
One feature we would love to see in MK9 is a track creator. After all, Nintendo has already explored content creation with the Mario Maker series and Mario Kart Home Circuit practically is a track builder, allowing you to turn your living room into a race track.
https://twitter.com/LeakyPandy/status/1478099349439750148
Twitter account LeakyPandy also claims the next MK game will be revealed in 2022 and be called either Mario Kart 10 or Mario Kart Crossroads, but no sources are cited. If you’re wondering why it might be called MK10 and not MK9, the mobile-only Mario Kart Tour could be considered the ninth entry in the series.
Are the Mario Kart 9 rumours true?
At this stage, nothing has been confirmed as Nintendo hasn’t officially announced MK9 yet. But given MK8’s massive success, a sequel seems inevitable.
As much as we love pummelling friends with Blue Shells in MK8 Deluxe, the time is right for a sequel. The franchise would benefit from a fresh coat of paint bringing new game modes, characters, vehicles, and gameplay mechanics as well as updated graphics.
Will Mario Kart 9 release on Nintendo Switch?
Mario Kart games are typically released on new Nintendo platforms. Although MK8 Deluxe is only available on the Switch, it’s technically an enhanced port of MK8 on the Wii U.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqToyii4EfE&ab_channel=RacingGames
However, considering MK8 Deluxe continues to sell by the bucketload (it is now the best-selling game in the franchise with over 38 million units sold), it seems unlikely MK9 will release on Nintendo Switch this late in the console's lifecycle. Instead, we predict MK9 will be sold on Nintendo’s next-generation console rumored to release in 2024.