Ever since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s release back in 2017, Switch owners have been stuck wondering what’s next for the Mario Kart series. After all, Deluxe hasn’t gotten any noticeable DLC since then, and signs of a new game have been few and far between.

However, it seems like things could potentially soon. Why? Because according to analyst Dr Serkan Toto, a new Mario Kart is not only in active development, but could even be announced this year! Here’s the original comment as per the GamesIndustry.biz article:

I am aware that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still selling very well on the Nintendo Switch, but Mario Kart 9 is in active development (and comes with a new twist) and Nintendo could tease it this year,

It’s an interesting one if true, and one that’s led to many rumours online.

But is it really the case? Are we really getting a new Mario Kart anytime soon?

And if so, what would be in it anyway?

Well on the first front, it’s hard to really be sure. On the one hand, yes Serkan Toto’s comment does sound somewhat authorative there, but it could just as easily be an educated guess as much as anything else. After all, the article was about predictions, and the idea of Nintendo working on a new Mario Kart is not exactly a difficult one to guess.

What’s more, it’s almost always guaranteed to be true too. Sure, there might be no specific evidence it’ll be released this year.

But this is Nintendo we’re talking about. They’re always working on a new game in their major franchises, even if the existing ones are selling really well and the new one is many years away. So predicting that a new Mario Kart is in development is hardly the most difficult thing in the world.

Regardless, let’s say it does happen. Let’s say for now that Mario Kart 9 will in fact be revealed this year.

What would it have in it?

Well, it’s hard to tell really. On the one hand, we’ve got no info on the matter from Dr Serkan Toto, so we can’t connect any rumours to that source this time around. All he says is that there’s a twist involved.

But from what we’ve heard, there are two schools of thought there. Two directions people expect the Mario Kart series to go.

With those being ‘Nintendo Kart’ and ‘Mario Kart Ultimate’.

The former would be exactly what you’d expect. Mario Kart, except with Super Smash Bros style crossover elements.

In this version of the game, the Mario universe wouldn’t be the main focus anymore, and everyone from Link to Fox to Captain Falcon would take to karts and try to beat each other to the finish line on tracks based around their respective franchises.

It’s an enticing idea, and one that’s been constantly suggested for the last decade or so.

Yet is it really going to be a thing now? Well, again we’re not sure. Feels a tad ambitious, and unexpected for Nintendo.

But so does the other rumour, the idea of it being some ‘ultimate’ Mario Kart game with tons of tracks, characters, extra options, etc. For instance, one possibility we’ve seen (Mario Kart Maximum) has 16 player races (plus the option to pick 8 and 12 player ones), plus an absolute shed load of characters from all over the Mario series.

So it’s hard to really find anything credible here. You’ve either got Nintendo Kart style fan wish lists, or traditional Mario Kart style fan wish lists, both masquerading as speculation.

Still, what do you think? Could we really see Mario Kart 9 announced this year? And if so, what sort of features would actually be in it?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or on our Discord server today!

Source:

Mario Kart 9 is Reportedly in Development With a ‘Twist’ (Gamespot)