In a forecast from Kantan Games analyst Dr. Serkan Toto, it's claimed that Mario Kart 9 is currently in development and Nintendo may reveal its next mainline kart-racing game this year. While Nintendo has not confirmed Mario Kart 9 for the Nintendo Switch, that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating about the inevitable sequel. Though some are still experimenting with previous Mario Kart games, like one speedrunner’s Super Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road record, others are crossing their fingers for the next mainline game.
The next game in the series can improve upon previous iterations, bringing a new era of racing to the Nintendo Switch. For example, some fans hope Mario Kart 9 can fix the frustrating double item boxes in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, reworking the double item system with Double Dash!!’s item switching. It has also been suggested that Mario Kart 9 be similar to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, including iconic characters and stages from Nintendo games both old and new. While Mario Kart 8 did add DLC characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda series, it has been said that Mario Kart 9 should be a full crossover, including racers like Captain Falco, Kirby, or Samus Aran, among a lengthy list of other Nintendo characters. For now, however, it’s not clear what Nintendo is planning for Mario Kart 9.
First reported by GamesIndustry.biz (via VGC), Kantan Games analyst Dr. Serkan Toto has claimed that Mario Kart 9 is “in development” and that Nintendo could reveal the mainline game as soon as this year. While sharing industry predictions for 2022, Toto said:
“I am aware 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 hasn’t been confirmed what that “new twist” is, however, there are plenty of variations on the Mario Kart formula left to be explored. It's worth noting that, so far, Nintendo has been quiet on the possibility of a new Mario Kart, meaning the claims should be taken with a grain of salt for now.
The last mainline game, Mario Kart 8, was originally released for the Wii U in 2014 before it was enhanced for the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Mario Kart 8 is Nintendo’s best-selling racer, having sold nearly 40 million copies to date. Nintendo’s most recent Mario Kart project is its free-to-play Mario Kart Tour, which was released on mobile devices in September 2019. The game has been a commercial success, raking in $200 million and 200 million downloads as of April 2021. Although Nintendo has never released more than one mainline Mario Kart game on any of its consoles, Nintendo has been adamant about the Switch’s longevity, meaning another Mario Kart for the mobile console is likely.
Given Nintendo’s success with the Mario Kart franchise, Mario Kart 9 is likely inevitable. That said, what the next mainline game will bring to the series is unclear, and when exactly it might launch is also up for debate. It’s possible Mario Kart 9 will be a full crossover like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, especially with Toto hinting at Mario Kart 9’s new twist. Until Nintendo reveals the game, however, fans are left to their speculation.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz (via VGC)