The wait is actually getting a bit ridiculous.
It has been over a decade since the original release of Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U. Think about that for a second. We’ve lived through entire console generations, massive global shifts, and countless Nintendo Directs, yet we are still drifting around the same tracks we played in 2014. Sure, the "Deluxe" version on Switch added some polish and the Booster Course Pass gave us a shot of adrenaline with 48 DLC tracks, but let’s be real. It isn’t a new Mario Kart game. It’s a very well-maintained museum.
Fans are restless. If you check any gaming forum or social thread after a Nintendo announcement, the sentiment is usually the same: "Where is Mario Kart 9?" (or 10, depending on how you count Mario Kart Tour). But if you look at the industry data and Nintendo’s historical hardware cycles, the delay starts to make a lot of sense, even if it’s frustrating.
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Problem
Nintendo is essentially a victim of its own success. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe isn't just a popular game; it is an anomaly. As of the latest financial reports, the game has moved over 60 million units. It’s consistently in the top ten best-sellers list every single month, years after release.
From a cold, hard business perspective, why would Nintendo rush to release a new Mario Kart game when the current one is still printing money?
Imagine you’re a high-level executive at Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters. You see the sales charts. You see that every person who buys a Switch basically buys Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as their first game. Releasing a sequel right now would effectively "kill" the sales tail of your most profitable asset. It’s a weird situation where the game is too good for its own successor to exist yet.
What the Leaks Actually Tell Us
We have to be careful here because the "leaker" community is full of people just guessing for clout. However, some credible patterns have emerged from supply chain analysts like Dr. Serkan Toto and various shipping manifests that hint at what's coming.
The consensus among most reputable industry insiders is that the next entry is being developed alongside the "Switch 2" (or whatever the successor ends up being called). Nintendo likes to have a "system seller" for launch day. While Breath of the Wild did that for the original Switch, a new Mario Kart game would be the ultimate way to ensure the next console flies off shelves.
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There are strong rumors about a new "gimmick" too. Every Mario Kart has one.
- Double Dash had two riders.
- Mario Kart 7 had hang gliding and underwater.
- Mario Kart 8 had anti-gravity.
The chatter right now—and take this with a grain of salt—suggests a focus on "cross-IP" integration. We saw a hint of this with Link, Inklings, and Animal Crossing characters appearing in the DLC. Some experts suggest the next game might drop the "Mario" branding slightly in favor of "Nintendo Kart," pulling in more franchises like Metroid or Star Fox. Honestly, seeing Samus Aran in a high-tech hover-kart would be incredible.
The Technical Leap Forward
What will a new Mario Kart game actually look like on more powerful hardware?
We aren't just talking about 4K resolution. The real excitement lies in the physics and the density of the tracks. Imagine a track with thousands of active spectators, dynamic weather that actually changes the handling of your kart mid-race, or fully destructible environments.
The current Switch hardware is ancient. It’s struggling to maintain a steady frame rate in some of the more complex DLC tracks like Squeaky Clean Sprint when played in four-player split-screen. A sequel on next-gen hardware would allow for a level of visual fidelity that makes the cartoon world of the Mushroom Kingdom look like a high-budget animated film.
Why the Booster Course Pass Was a Clue
When Nintendo announced 48 "remastered" tracks for the current game, half the internet cheered and the other half groaned. The groaners were right about one thing: it meant a sequel was years away.
But it also served a purpose. It allowed Nintendo to experiment with track designs and see what modern players actually like. The inclusion of tracks from Mario Kart Tour (the mobile game) into the console space showed that they are interested in "world-tour" style racing. This could be a massive hint for the new Mario Kart game. We might see a game that isn't just set in the Mushroom Kingdom, but features locations inspired by the real world or other Nintendo universes.
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What We Need to See
Let's be honest about the current state of the series. While the racing is perfect, the "extra" content is a bit thin.
- A Real Single-Player Mode: Mario Kart DS had incredible "Mission Mode" boss fights. We need that back.
- Deep Customization: Picking wheels and gliders is fine, but let us actually paint the karts or tweak the stats more meaningfully.
- Improved Netcode: Nintendo’s online service is... well, it’s Nintendo's online service. It needs to be better for a competitive racer in 2026.
Addressing the "Mario Kart 10" Theory
There is a segment of the fanbase that believes Nintendo considers Mario Kart Tour to be the ninth installment. If that’s the case, the next big console release would technically be Mario Kart 10.
Nintendo is weird about numbering. They might just call it Mario Kart Crossroads or Mario Kart Ultimate. Whatever the name, the pressure is immense. They aren't just competing with other racing games; they are competing with the legacy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is arguably the most polished kart racer ever made.
Breaking the 10-Year Cycle
It’s easy to get cynical. We’ve been waiting so long it feels like the game might never happen. But Nintendo is a hardware company first. They need software to sell the new "box."
The most realistic timeline? A reveal in late 2025 or early 2026, coinciding with the launch of their next-generation hardware. It’s the only move that makes sense for their bottom line and for the fans who are tired of Moo Moo Meadows.
The reality is that Nintendo doesn't move when the market wants them to; they move when the "play experience" feels right. EAD (the development team) is known for scrapping projects that don't feel "fresh." If the new Mario Kart game isn't out yet, it's likely because they are still trying to find that one "hook" that makes it feel different enough from its predecessor.
Actionable Steps for the Mario Kart Fan
Stop waiting for a "shadow drop." It’s not happening. Nintendo treats Mario Kart like a crown jewel, and its rollout will be a massive, months-long marketing campaign.
- Check the Hardware News: Keep a close eye on "Switch 2" or "Nintendo Focus" leaks. The game will almost certainly be a launch title for the next console.
- Don't Overlook the DLC: If you haven't played the Booster Course Pass, do it. Many of those tracks are actually testing grounds for mechanics we might see in the sequel.
- Watch the Sales Data: When Mario Kart 8 Deluxe finally drops out of the top ten, that’s your signal that the sequel is imminent.
- Support the Indie Scene: If you're bored, games like Hot Wheels Unleashed or Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled offer a great challenge while we wait for the king to return.
The next era of Nintendo racing is coming. It’s just taking the long way around the track.