Mario Kart World wasn’t always meant to debut on Nintendo Switch 2.
In fact, producer Kosuke Yabuki has confirmed that the ambitious racing game started development all the way back in 2017. It was originally planned for the first Nintendo Switch, but the project grew beyond what that console could handle.
Speaking in Ask the Developer Vol. 18: Mario Kart World – Part 1, Yabuki explained that the team began brainstorming ideas during development of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Prototyping for Mario Kart World kicked off in March 2017, and by the end of the year, full development was underway.
Back then, there were high hopes of launching the game on the original Switch. But it didn’t take long for the team to realize just how big their vision was becoming. The scale of Mario Kart World started to stretch the limits of the hardware.
Yabuki put it bluntly: “We worked on it while kicking the can down the road in terms of deciding what to give up on, so at some point, we knew it was going to get messy.” In other words, compromises would have been necessary to get the game running well on the first Switch, and that wasn’t something the team wanted to accept.
Instead of cutting back, Nintendo shifted the game’s development to the new hardware, Switch 2. According to Yabuki, this gave the team a “ray of hope.” The improved specs of the Switch 2 meant they could pursue their original ideas without holding back.
The move to new hardware also lined up with the decision to release the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass. That extra content kept fans happy while the team took more time to polish Mario Kart World behind the scenes.
Now, after eight years in development, Mario Kart World is finally ready, and it’s launching next month (June 5, 2025) as a day-one title for Nintendo Switch 2.
This shift to the next-gen console not only saved the game from compromise, but it allowed the developers to explore new features and gameplay that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. While details on gameplay and features are still under wraps, expectations are sky-high.
Fans have waited a long time for a new mainline Mario Kart entry. The success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which launched way back in 2017 and has continued to sell millions thanks to updates and DLC, meant Nintendo didn’t need to rush a sequel. But now, with Mario Kart World ready to roll and the Switch 2 on the horizon, the next era of Mario Kart is almost here.
Eight years is a long time to wait, but if the scale and ambition teased by Yabuki are anything to go by, it might just be worth it.
Ethan Cross is a tech journalist and analyst with a passion for gaming, AI, and emerging innovations. With years of experience covering hardware, software, and industry trends, he breaks down complex tech topics into engaging, accessible insights. Whether it’s the latest gaming hardware, smartphone innovations, AI breakthroughs, or startup disruptions, Ethan delivers sharp, in-depth coverage that keeps readers ahead of the curve. His expertise spans gaming reviews, software updates, blockchain, and industry shake-ups, ensuring that no major tech development goes unnoticed.
