During the official reveal of the Switch 2, footage played of what appeared to be a potential Mario Kart 9 running on the new console. While Nintendo have yet to officially announce a new entry in the long-running racing series, the little teaser seemingly showed off a new course and some Donkey Kong redesigns.
With an upcoming Switch 2 Direct in April, perhaps we'll learn more and get the confirmation we've all been waiting for. It's been a long time since we got a new Mario Kart game, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe actually being a rerelease of the Wii U installment that came to the Switch near launch back in 2017. While Mario Kart 8 is still going strong - with a flurry of tracks added in recent years and Nintendo even calling for players to hit the roads in some community challenges - the idea of a follow-up to one of the best Switch games would certainly step things up a gear.
It may also not even be technically called Mario Kart 9 if it gets announced, but we're hoping for an official reveal that confirms it'll be among the upcoming Switch games and upcoming Switch 2 games in the future. While we await more news and the incoming Switch 2 Direct, there's plenty of interesting details in the clips shown to tuck into. So join us as we break down all of the speculation and news and take through everything we know so far about the rumored Mario Kart 9.
Mario Kart 9 release date speculation
Currently, there is no confirmed Mario Kart 9 release date since Nintendo technically hasn't announced the game at all. However, despite the lack of announcements, the recent Switch 2 reveal contained footage of what looks to be a new Mario Kart game. So, we'll likely be getting a firm release date for the game during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025.
From all the clues in the reveal trailer for the new console, it seems like Mario Kart will be a Switch 2 launch title. That means that as soon as we get a Switch 2 release window, we should have one for Mario's next zooming outing as well. For information on the Switch 2's release, head over to our guide on Switch 2 pre-orders.
In the meantime, we'll keep you posted as more details head our way!
Is there a Mario Kart 9 trailer?
While we don't have an official trailer for Mario Kart 9, fans are convinced that we saw our first glimpse of the game during the Switch 2 reveal (which you can check out for yourself above).
In the teaser, we see a desert track, with drivers zooming past Yoshi's Gas Station. Footage of the new Mario Kart is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of deal. However, keen-eyed Nintendo enthusiasts have already spotted tons of details, like the fact that Donkey Kong has had a few design tweaks to align more with the character model seen in the recent Super Mario Bros movie. We expect to see a more in-depth trailer for Mario Kart 9 during April's Nintendo Direct, so keep an eye on this page for updates.
Mario Kart 9 platform speculation
We know that if Mario Kart 9 is indeed on its way, it will likely be a Switch 2 game. However nothing has been fully confirmed just yet.
The good news is that Nintendo said that it's new console will have backwards compatibility with some games, so Nintendo Switch owners may be able to pick up the title once (and if) it releases without grabbing the new Switch 2 as well.
One thing is for certain, though, like with all Mario games, platforms will be strictly Nintendo-owned and operated. So, don't expect to play Mario Kart 9 on your Steam Deck or PS5 anytime soon.
Mario Kart 9 characters and tracks
If the trailer shown during the recent Switch 2 reveal is indeed Mario Kart 9, then from what we saw from the footage, we know that there will be a new desert track that seems to be called the Mario Bros. Circuit. In this track, we see there are also 24 placements. This is a series first, as we've only typically seen 12 racers on a track in the series. Exciting times!
In the clip, we don't get a good look at all 24 racers. However, we do see shots of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Toad, Daisy, Rosalina, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Peach. We're sure that other series mainstays, such as Wario, Waluigi, Boo, and Shy Guy will also get confirmed soon. Along with confirming some characters, we also see that there is a wide range of vehicles already on display. Of course, Rosalina has her iconic blue motorbike, and the wide range of different styles on display in the clip also hints towards customization returning in the game as well.
For more on Nintendo, head over to our guide on the Switch 2 design and our list of the best Switch exclusives.
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