Mario Kart World leads Nintendo Switch 2 launch line-up and it looks incredible

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Nintendo has confirmed all the details around the next Mario Kart, including a release date, title, and a new open world to race around.

After it initially debuted during the reveal of the Switch 2, complete with a redesigned Donkey Kong, Nintendo has officially pulled back the curtain on the sequel to Mario Kart 8.

The game was showcased during the long-awaited Nintendo Direct presentation for the Switch 2, where the company revealed the console’s release date, and launch line-up.

A key part of this line-up is Mario Kart World, which looks to be the most ambitious entry in the series yet and the main launch title for the new console.

As hinted at in the initial reveal trailer, Mario Kart World will feature an open world for the first time in the series. It looks to serve as one giant hub world that connects all the individual racetracks, and you can freely explore it on your own or with friends.

Several new characters have also been confirmed, including King Boo, Hammer Bro, Charging Chuck, Lakitu, and even a cow, on top of the previously revealed regulars Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Donkey Kong, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, Daisy, Rosalina, Pauline, Koopa Troopa, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi.

It looks set to be the largest roster in the series, which is appropriate since races now allow for up to 24 players. In addition, instead of underwater racing and gliding like in the previous game, you’ll be able to race across the water and fly through the air thanks to karts transforming into boats and planes, not unlike Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.

There are still some unexplained details, like an item that grants characters different costumes, but Nintendo already has a dedicated Mario Kart World showcase planned for April 17.

How much will Mario Kart World cost?

Perhaps the most shocking detail about Mario Kart World is its price, with it costing £74.99 physically and £66.99 digitally. So, no matter how you like to purchase your games, you’ll still be spending a pretty penny.

This will no doubt be the precedent for first party Switch 2 games going forward and judging by some of the initial reactions, fans aren’t exactly thrilled with the idea.

TechRadar’s Dashiell Wood simply posted an incredulous ‘It’s seventy four pounds ninety nine for a Nintendo Switch 2 game???’ in all caps.

One fan, shady, outright calls the Mario Kart World price ‘insane’ while also highlighting Nintendo’s asking price for the new Donkey Kong game, Donkey Kong Bananza.

The pricing situation isn’t much better in the US, with Nintendo’s digital games said to cost $80. ‘I know I’ve been hyping up the Switch 2 but paid upgrades for games I already own to now having to pay 80 dollars for Switch 2 exclusives with the console being 450 with no OLED option? Yeah I’ma [sic] pass for a bit,’ writes Theredviper0101.

Mario Kart World is the first new mainline entry in the series since 2014’s Mario Kart 8, which was re-released on the original Switch in 2017. Several spin-offs have been released in the interim, including Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and mobile title Mario Kart Tour.